What is Holy Week and how is it celebrated in Spain?

Holy Week in Spain is one of the most profound and moving celebrations on the calendar. During these days, which each year fall between March and April, many cities and towns transform their streets into stages where history and devotion are experienced intensely.



If you have ever considered traveling at this time of year, this is the perfect moment to discover Holy Week, its origins, and where to experience some of the most impressive celebrations in the country.

What Is Holy Week and What Is Celebrated?

Holy Week commemorates the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It begins on Palm Sunday, marking his entry into Jerusalem, and culminates on Easter Sunday, one week later, the day on which Jesus Christ rises again.

From Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday: A Daily Guide to Holy Week

Cities begin to fill with processions from Palm Sunday onward, representing Jesus’ triumphant entry among palms and olive branches.

Holy Monday and Holy Tuesday usually depict scenes from Christ’s public life and the first announcements of the Passion. After these initial days, the processions of Holy Wednesdayportray Judas’ betrayal and the moments leading up to the arrest.

Holy Thursday, one of the most emotional days, commemorates the Last Supper and the beginning of the Passion in the Garden of Gethsemane. As night falls, it gives way to Good Friday, when the crucifixion and death of Christ are remembered.

Holy Saturday is a day of waiting and reflection, symbolizing the time Christ remained in the tomb. Finally, Easter Sunday brings Holy Week to a close with processions celebrating the Resurrection and, in many cities, the encounter between the Risen Christ and the Virgin Mary.

Altar prepared to celebrate the Palm Sunday Eucharist.

When Is Holy Week Celebrated?

Unlike other festivities, Holy Week does not have a fixed date. It is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox, meaning it can fall between March 22 and April 25.

This calculation, officially established after the Council of Nicaea in the 4th century, links the celebration to the lunar calendar. That is why its starting date changes every year, although it always takes place at the beginning of spring.

History and Origins of Holy Week

The origin of Holy Week dates back to the early centuries of Christianity, although the form in which we know it today began to take shape in the Middle Ages. At a time when most of the population could not read, the Church used visual representations to convey the episodes of the Passion.

This is how the first processions and the Way of the Cross emerged. Over time, these dramatizations gave rise to the floats: structures depicting biblical scenes that today are true works of art, many of them carved by great Baroque sculptors.

Brotherhoods and confraternities began to organize between the 16th and 17th centuries, especially in Andalusia and Castile and León. Since then, each region has developed its own style, endowing Spanish Holy Week with unique richness and diversity.

Virgin float during Holy Week.

How Holy Week Is Experienced in Spain

Although each city has its own personality, there are common elements that define this celebration.

Processions and Floats

Processions are the central axis. Throughout the week, floats move through the streets accompanied by Nazarenes dressed in tunics and pointed hoods, penitents fulfilling vows and, in some cities, marching bands whose drums set the pace of the route.

Beneath the floats, the costaleros carry structures that can exceed a ton in weight. The physical effort, coordination, and shared emotion make each procession an unforgettable moment.

In some Andalusian cities, the silence is broken by an impromptu saeta sung from a balcony. In Castile and León, by contrast, austerity and solemn reflection dominate the atmosphere.

Procession with Nazarenes and throne among a crowd.

Holy Week Gastronomy

Tradition is also savored. Lent has historically shaped cuisine during these dates, highlighting recipes such as chickpea and cod stew or dishes prepared with cod.

As for desserts, torrijas hold an essential place, along with pestiños and Easter monas.

Torrijas with honey prepared at El Mirador restaurant in Seville.

Cities Where Holy Week Is Experienced Most Intensely

If you are thinking about discovering Holy Week in different cities across Spain, there are destinations that stand out for the intensity with which they celebrate this week.

Holy Week in Seville

Speaking of Holy Week in Spain means speaking of Seville. Declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest, the city experiences these days with an intensity that is hard to describe.

Brotherhoods walk the Official Route toward the Cathedral amid incense, music, and crowds that fall silent as deeply venerated images such as La Macarena or El Gran Poder pass by.

Staying in the historic heart will allow you easy access to the main routes and to enjoy the city at night when the streets glow with the passing confraternities. Stay at our Vincci Hoteles in Seville, which boast an ideal location so you do not miss any part of this unique celebration.

Experience room at Vincci Selección Unuk 5*.

Holy Week in Málaga

Málaga offers a different version, marked by color and the imposing thrones that replace traditional floats.

One of the best-known moments is the release of a prisoner by the Brotherhood of Jesús El Rico, a tradition with centuries of history that attracts thousands of visitors every year.

The city, open to the sea and blessed with pleasant spring weather, becomes a perfect destination to combine culture, tradition, and relaxation. To help you fully enjoy Holy Week in Málaga, our Vincci Hoteles in Málaga offer the ideal location and all the comforts you need.

Reception of Vincci Selección Posada del Patio 5*.

Holy Week in Valladolid

In central Spain, Valladolid represents the Castilian essence. Its processions stand out for their silence, austerity, and the artistic value of their sculptures, many created by masters such as Gregorio Fernández.

Here, emotion needs no grand gestures. Reflection and sculptural beauty turn each procession into an introspective experience. It is a Holy Week that invites calm observation and appreciation of detail.

Stay at our Hotel Vincci Frontaura 4*, excellently located in Valladolid, allowing you to follow each procession, experience the tradition up close, and relax away from the bustle of these days.

Buffet breakfast at Hotel Vincci Frontaura 4*.

Holy Week in Salamanca

Salamanca adds an incomparable setting to the celebration. Processions pass through historic streets and monumental squares that amplify the visual impact of each scene.

The nighttime illumination on the city’s golden stone creates a unique atmosphere. University tradition, heritage, and popular devotion come together in a Holy Week that blends solemnity and aesthetics.

From our Hotel Vincci Ciudad de Salamanca 4*, you can enjoy every moment, strolling through historic streets without missing a single detail of this celebration.

Lobby bar at Hotel Vincci Ciudad de Salamanca 4*.

Holy Week in Granada

Granada offers one of the most impressive scenes of Andalusian Holy Week. Watching a float advance with the Alhambra as a backdrop is an image hard to forget.

The Albaicín neighborhood, its slopes and viewpoints, give the processions a distinctive character. Here, tradition coexists with historical legacy, and the spring atmosphere turns each day into a complete experience.

From our Vincci Hoteles in Granada, you can explore the historic streets and experience each procession up close, enjoying the city with all the comfort you deserve.

Junior suite room at Vincci Albayzin 4* hotel.

Experience Holy Week with Vincci Hoteles

Traveling during Holy Week means discovering Spain from a different perspective. It means waking early to watch a dawn procession, strolling among incense and music, tasting a freshly made torrija, and feeling how each city expresses its identity through tradition. Experiencing it with Vincci Hoteles will transform every moment into an unforgettable memory.

Interiors of Vincci Selección Unuk 5*.

Now that you know what Holy Week in Spain is and where to experience it most intensely, only one question remains: in which city would you like to begin your next getaway?

"Come. Be amazed. Discover more than 40 four- and five-star hotels where each experience is unique. Open your eyes. Look out. Enjoy the most privileged locations. See. Touch. Feel a design and style evident in every detail. Rest. Relax. Let yourself be cared for by a service where you are the center. Dream. Smile. Live. You are in a Vincci".

TRAVEL.LIVE.VINCCI