Next week is the Holy Week or Semana Santa in Valencia. In this article you will find out what’s happening in Valencia during the most important Christian holiday of the year.
The public holidays in Valencian Community are on Friday 30th of March (Good Friday) and Monday 2nd of April (Easter Monday) which means everything will be closed those days.
Semana Santa Marinera (22nd March – 1st April)
Every year the Holy Week is largely celebrated in El Maritim area in Valencia. This area includes the neighborhoods of El Grau, Cabanyal and Canyamelar. 31 associations and 4 Catholic parishes take part in the celebrations.
Palm Sunday (Domingo de Ramos)
On 25th March at 9:45 am the Procession of Palms (Procesión de las Palmas) begins and lasts for about 2 and a half hours.
Holy Thursday (Jueves Santo)
On 29th March at 8 pm you can watch the Procession of the Torches. The streets are illuminated by hundreds of candles while the processions silently walk. The best place to watch the parade is Avenida del Mediterráneo.
Good Friday (Viernes Santo)
The most important event of the 30th March is the Procession of the Holy Burial that starts at 6:30 pm and lasts for about 5 hours. It passes through all the streets in the Maritim area.
Easter Sunday (Domingo de Pascua)
Every day of the celebrations you can watch numerous parades but the highlight of the Semana Santa Marinera is Sunday 1st April and the unique Resurrection procession that begins at 1 pm. People throw flowers from the balconies and release doves while the participants dressed as biblical figures are marching under the traditional music carrying sculpted images.
Visit this page for detailed information about the events during the upcoming weekend and the whole Holy Week. Next week you can look forward to an article about Mona de Pascua, the traditional Spanish Easter pie.
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