I am considering a stay of about five days in Valencia during Holy Week. I would arrive on Palm Sunday and return on either good Friday or Saturday. Any ideas that people have would be welcome. I've been to Spain twice, and I speak Spanish, if this helps anyone narrow his or her advice.
Thank you,
William
New York
Can't say what it would be like during Holy Week, but I love Valencia and it would be a great place to spend several days and really soak up the architecture and amazing food. But if you are a go-go-go person, it might get boring as there are fewer major sites compared to other Spanish cities.
As far as I know, all cities in Spain organises lots of events and celebrations related with Easter, so I guess it is the right place to be over Easter. Italy too seems to be very lively. If you speak Spanish even better.
Good luck
I made the mistake of spending a lot of Holy Week in Barcelona. Catalon is the least religious part of Spain and Barcelona is the least religious part of Catalon - so there was nothing going on except extra masses in the Cathedral and one procession, run by some Sevilla expats, on Good Friday.
Fortunately, we left and visited Zaragosa for Holy Thursday - one of the most amazing experiences of any of my travels. Zaragosa has, I think, 26 social clubs (think Kiwanis) that each put on big processions for Holy Week. On Holy Thursday they all march on one of two routes and go all night. The processions involve literally hundreds of drummers, including small children, dressed as penitents (from the Spanish Inquisition), escorting a series of floats that reflect the stations of the cross. There are others in the procession with crosses, candles, incense burners, relics, etc. and women dressed in traditional mourning clothes following the float of Mary mourning her son's death (Mary always comes last, like Santa in a Christmas parade).
We also went to a Good Friday procession in Pamplona, but that was very subdued in comparison to Zaragosa.
Sevilla is the most widely know place for Semana Santa activities, but Valladolid is another city that's processions are highly regarded in Spain.
I'd try to find out how big the processions are in Valencia. If they aren't special, get up to Zaragosa on Holy Thursday for a treat.
