We are planning to drive from Arcos to Seville on the morning of Maunday-Thursday, turn in our car at the airport and take the metro into town. We know it will be crowded and most sites may be closed but we really want to see/experience the processions of Semana Santa. Does anyone have any strategy for how/where to get a good view or how to find out the procession routes/times? Vueling has cheap flights to Barcelona so we are considering just spending a long day in Seville and then catching the last flight out to Barcelona for a few days. Is this a mistake? Should we just stay in Seville through Good Friday? I have found an apartment that looks good on Airbnb in Seville. We leave for the US out of Madrid on Easter Sunday. Thanks in advance for your advice!
Posted by
Whittington
984 posts
'crowded' - easily avoided.
'most sites may be closed' - I doubt it, emphasis on the 'may'.
http://www.exploreseville.com/events/semana-santa.htm - not updated for a couple of years but I think mostly still valid, unless for certainty you go to a tourist office for schedules, but maybe your accommodation can help.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15784 posts
This website explains a lot about Semana Santa all over Andalucia. Here are the schedules for last year. I don't think they change much from year to year. Most sights don't close (according to their published hours on their official websites) but they will probably be crowded. If you want to visit the Alcazar (highly recommended) or see a flamenco performance, you should probably booked well in advance.
What time is your flight out of Madrid? I don't think you'll have a "few" days in Barcelona - I count 2 (Friday/Saturday) and that's if you are comfortable taking the train on Sunday morning from Barcelona to Madrid for your flight home. Even if you stay in Seville, it will take you about 4 hours to get to the Madrid airport and you'll need to be there 2-3 hours before your flight.
If you don't want to stay in Seville, you could spend time in Cordoba (the Mezquita is a wow) and/or Cordoba.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you! This is the encouragement I needed to take the plunge and just stay in Seville 2 nights. The website you provided has suggested that you can by grand stand tickets but did not give any details. We will ask the owner of our Airbnb for advice, but if you know of a way to do that ahead of time, please share. Thanks again!
Posted by
Whittington
984 posts
You may tell me different after liaison with someone very local, but I doubt there is any possibility you will be able to acquire permanent seating as in a grandstand. These places, apart from dignitaries, are granted months or years in advance or by invitation from those in a position.