Appropriate clothing for Catholic mass, southern Spain

Annon,
My mom & I attended Catholic mass in Córdoba, Granada & Toledo (2015) & I didn't see any of the women with head coverings.
When in Toledo, I only saw a couple of very elderly women with the traditional, "mantilla", a lace head cover.

While in Granada, we entered a church & there was a wedding ceremony happening, very few of the women wore fancy hats, but most didn't wear any head covering, except for the bride who wore a beautiful long lacy mantilla.

You don't need to worry about wearing a head covering.

I did buy a beautiful lace mantilla in Sevilla & have worn it as a scarf!

Enjoy your cruise!

Priscilla,
Thanks very much! I am very much enjoying it. Annon

This is right in my experience. I have been to mass in Granada, Sevilla, and Toledo and women are dressed pretty much as normal. I think there were a few slightly above the knee dresses too but no sleeveless tops. To be safe wear pants or longer skirts and any shirt with sleeves. There were a few older ladies with head coverings but not many.

Just an interesting note - I never saw the wine being given in the Eucharist, just the bread. People also don't line up in the order of their seats like at home (first pew goes, second behind it so on). Instead some eager person from anywhere in the church goes up first and then people go get in line as they finish praying or otherwise see fit.

Mira, thanks for the extra information, much appreciated.

Annon,

Mira's makes a good point here:

Just an interesting note - I never saw the wine being given in the Eucharist, just the bread. People also don't line up in the order of their seats like at home (first pew goes, second behind it so on). Instead some eager person from anywhere in the church goes up first and then people go get in line as they finish praying or otherwise see fit.

Another tip: When you get the Eucharist, place it in your mouth right away, don't start walking back to your seat.

I was reprimanded by a priest, in a small church in Toledo, when I did this. I was shocked by his stern command! I had decided to confront him after the mass, but he didn't appear afterwards.

I live in Sevilla and women wear pretty much everything. No head coverings, not even the older women. Jeans etc goes. My first time l was over dressed :-).

Thanks for all the advice. I found a small church in Cartagena. Women wore fairly modest clothing, but there were a few bare shoulders. A little awkwardness in that there was a kneeler in front of the priest distributing the Eucharist which some people used and some didn't, and the priest placed the host on people's tongue instead of in their hands, which is more the norm in the U.S: one forgets how to do it. But people were quietly friendly--I think most people are basically kind and patient with strangers who are obviously trying to be polite and respectful.

Just for the use of others: I wouldn't count on getting into all Spanish churches in something sleeveless. The cathedral in Barcelona's Barri Gotic (I'm not talking about La Sagrada Familia) was turning away people in sleeveless tops. I don't know how picky they are, if at all, about bare knees.

Barcelona cathedral was turing away medium length or short shorts but allowing bermuda shorts and dresses that were an inch or so above the knee. No idea the actual guidelines, that is what I saw one day this summer.

Annon,
Thanks for the update!
Enjoy the rest of your cruise!