Musing possible Holy Week trip

There is nothing like Holy Week in Spain. I'm not Catholic, but I loved it. The processions are majestic and moving. It is truly amazing. I have been to Southern Spain a few times (and headed there again next week) Holy Week turns it into a completely different place. From the onset, hotel prices can be triple their normal because Semana Santa is considered the most high season. If you go, you might want to consider renting an apartment. I went in 2011 with the purpose of experiencing Holy Week, so I didn't go into the Cathedral or the Alcazar in Seville. The lines for those sites were very long. My companions and I wanted to see the processions, so we took a taxi to the parish churches to watch the floats leave for their trip to the Cathedral. Those crowds were very intense, but still orderly and safe. If you were in Seville, but didn't want to go to those home churches, you would see the processions weaving their way around the city, but not with the same kinds of crowds that congregate at the home churches. It's much less dense and quite enjoyable because you can see the participants up close. Other cities in Southern Spain (and even Madrid) have Holy Week processions. If you go on Youtube, you can probably see what they are like.

I know I haven't answered a lot of your questions. I don't know how other places will be at that time and I'm not sure if changing the days will help. It would make sense that it would. I do think that Holy Week is worth a visit while in Spain if you are interested in it. The tradition is very old and meaningful. During my week there, we made a day trip to Sanlucar de Barrameda and it was a pleasant retreat from the crowds in Seville.

Good luck with your decision.

Kim,

In the last few months, I started a thread on this forum asking many of the questions you are asking. My memory is that there were several responses, including one from Brad.

The hotel prices are much higher in those cities known for their Semana Santa activities. Something that I have thought about is seeing Seville earlier in the week and then spending Holy Thursday and Good Friday in a smaller city where Semana Santa may not be as overwhelming as it seems to be in Seville.

Kim, Wikipedia has an interesting piece titled "Holy Week in Spain." Some cities closer to Madrid that are known for their Semana Santa activities are Zamora, Valladolid and Salamanca.

Thanks Susane and Richard! Richard I found your post, thanks. Brad also told me another thread to go to Zaragoza... Has me intrigued!

Looks like our soccer week is just going to be in Madrid now, day trips to Toledo and Segovia.

So I can do southern Spain, Seville, Córdoba, etc.... And on to Madrid.

Or Zaragoza, maybe Basque Country, other things north closer to Madrid...

But not both.... Decisions decisions!,

The cheaper prices and calmer atmosphere of Zaragoza is pulling me....

... just wanted to contribute to the conversation with three videos of some of the best processions in Catalonia (north east of Iberia), so you can consider whether it's worth altering your initial decision...

GIRONA: http://infocatalonia.eu/w/4gGMr -major religious centre of during the Middle Ages.

TARRAGONA: http://infocatalonia.eu/w/s5hrO - the old capital of Hispania Citerior. The city was known as Tarraco during the Roman Empire

VERGE'S DANCE OF DEATH: http://infocatalonia.eu/w/bd1FQ -probably the last remaining Dance of Death in Europe, performed during the Holy Week uninterruptedly since the Middle Ages.

Lastly to mention that if "you've been in Barcelona for a day".... you haven't been at all, you haven't seen anything... so coming "back" would be to discover something new for you.

we opted for Malaga to experience Semana Santa this year, and we loved it. We found the old city charming, very walkable and welcoming. We spent 4 nights (Holy Thursday through Easter Sunday) and saw (and heard!) lots of processions, including one right under our B&B window. Although crowded, it wasn't crazy. The cathedral is beautiful, and there is also a Roman amphitheatre and an Alcazar to explore. The seaside promenade was lovely. Malaga also has an airport well served by several carriers, and is a bus/train hub as well from which you can explore Nerja, Frigliana or even Granada. Although Rick (and others) suggest giving Malaga a miss, we are happy it made our hit list. I recommend it as another option for your family for Semana Santa. Check out the multitude of You Tube videos online to get a sense of the crowds.