Semana Santa in Sevilla 2023

Seville is widely regarded as the epicenter of Holy Week celebrations in Andalusia. The city's processions are known for their ornate floats, solemn music, and large crowds of participants and spectators. Some of the most notable processions in Seville include the Procession of La Macarena, the Procession of El Silencio, and the Procession of El Gran Poder.

During Semana Santa, dramatic religious processions fill the streets as sacred statues and floats are carried for miles each day and night from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. The official routes of the Holy Week processions in Seville are highly anticipated each year. The processions follow a carefully planned route through the streets of Seville, passing by some of the city's most significant landmarks and monuments.

As you follow the official routes of the processions, you'll have the opportunity to witness these stunning floats up close and experience the emotion and passion of the people of Seville as they come together to celebrate this important religious event. Seville is renowned for its elaborate Holy Week celebrations, known as Semana Santa, held each spring. This unique and unparalleled cultural and religious event attracts visitors from all over the world to Seville.

Don't miss out on this unforgettable experience in Seville's cultural calendar.

We understand that planning a visit to Seville during Holy Week can be overwhelming, with so much to see and experience. That's why our guide is designed to provide you with all the information you need to make the most of your trip and ensure that you don't miss a thing.

Tell me more about Holy Week celebrations.

Holy Week, also known as Semana Santa, is one of the most important religious events in Seville, Spain, and is celebrated with great fervor and devotion. This week-long celebration begins on Palm Sunday and ends on Easter Sunday. During this time, the city is filled with processions, music, and religious fervor.

The processions are organized by religious brotherhoods or "cofradías" and consist of groups of people dressed in traditional robes and carrying floats or "pasos" depicting scenes from the Passion of Christ, including the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. The floats are often adorned with flowers and candles, and the procession is accompanied by music played by brass bands or "bandas."

The processions take place throughout the week, with the most important ones occurring on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. On Maundy Thursday, the Procession of Silence takes place, during which the streets are filled with the sound of silence, broken only by the slow and somber footsteps of the procession. On Good Friday, the Procession of the Passion takes place, which is one of the most solemn and emotional processions of the week.

The processions are not only a religious event but also a cultural one, with people from all over the world coming to Seville to witness the spectacle. The streets are decorated with flowers and lights, and the air is filled with the sweet aroma of incense.

In addition to the processions, there are also other events and activities taking place during Holy Week, including concerts, exhibitions, and traditional food fairs. It's an unforgettable experience that immerses visitors in the rich cultural and religious heritage of Seville.

So what are you waiting for? Start planning your trip to Seville today and get ready to experience the passion, emotion, and culture of one of Spain's most spectacular events.

Some Dates classic references

Palm Sunday processions on April 2, 2023 will include La Borriquita Brotherhood, which evokes Jesus's entry into Jerusalem riding a donkey. On Monday April 3, revelers can see penitents from six brotherhoods including La Estrella, with a star-topped float, and El Cachorro, featuring a float of the Virgin Mary. Tuesday brings five more processions like Los Negritos, named for its dark-skinned Jesus statue, and El Amor, with a float showing Mary at the foot of the cross.

Wednesday April 4 may be the high point of Semana Santa as nine renowned brotherhoods parade through Seville. These include La Macarena, whose elegantly weeping Virgin statue is iconic, and El Cautivo, focusing on Christ the Captive. Thursday offers more top brotherhoods like Los Gitanos, which honors Romani heritage, and El Silencio, proceeding in haunting silence. Six Good Friday processions on April 7 solemnly recall Christ's crucifixion, death, and burial, with haunting floats and penitents in cone-shaped capirotes hoods.

Easter Sunday processions on April 9 turn joyful as statues of the resurrected Christ and Virgin Mary are carried through the streets. Two major processions are La Resurrección, showing Christ bursting from his tomb, and El Baratillo, a celebratory parade with no penitents. Throughout the week attendees can see over 50 floats, hundreds of penitents in traditional garb, and thousands of participants and spectators. The routes showcase Seville's architectural treasures like the Alcázar palace, Cathedral, and Barrio Santa Cruz district.

Experiencing Seville's magnificent and moving Semana Santa processions is a bucket list event for any traveler interested in Spain's deepest cultural traditions. The Consejo's recently announced 2023 procession routes allow visitors to begin planning to visit Seville and witness its world-renowned Holy Week celebrations in person

Seville's Holy Week is one of the most important cultural, religious and artistic events in Spain. From April 2-9, 2023, the Andalusian capital commemorates the passion and death of Christ with spectacular processions organized by the city's brotherhoods and confraternities. Though festivities begin a few days earlier on Sorrowful Friday and Passion Saturday, the bulk of the processions and main services start on Palm Sunday, April 2.

Over the week, dozens of artistic floats and hundreds of penitents in traditional garb slowly file through Seville's historic streets. The elaborately carved wood and wax sculptures depicting religious scenes are considered masterpieces of Spanish religious art. Somber hymns play as the scent of incense wafts through the air, transporting spectators back in time and creating a powerful atmosphere of deep faith and tradition.

The processions showcase some of Seville's most renowned brotherhoods. The most prominent dates are:

• • April 2, 2023 (Palm Sunday): The first procession is opened by the Brotherhood of Peace, from the Porvenir neighborhood, one of the most emotional departures. A total of nine Brotherhoods composed of 18 floats make their processions and station of penance on this day. The most prominent floats are 'La Borriquita' from the Church of Our Savior, 'Jesus Stripped' from the Chapel of Bitterest Suffering, 'Peace' from St. Sebastian Parish and 'The Cell' from the Church of the Third Order of St. Francis.
• • April 3, 2023 (Holy Monday): The first processions on this day in Seville date back to 1924 and recall passages from the life of Jesus. The most prominent floats are 'Our Father Jesus Captive and Rescued' from St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish, 'The Kiss of Judas' from Santiago Church, 'Santa Genoveva' from Our Lady of Mercy Parish and 'Santa Marta' from St. Andrew's Church.
• • April 4, 2023 (Holy Tuesday): On this day different moments of Jesus Christ are evoked, recalling the passages of the last week of Jesus's life. The most prominent floats are 'The Hill' from the Church of Sorrows, 'The Javiers' from the Church of All Saints, 'San Esteban' from St. Stephen's Church and 'The Students' from the University Chapel.
• • April 5, 2023 (Holy Wednesday): The processions on this day began in Seville in 1905. They recall various passages of Jesus, aware that his inevitable end is near. The most prominent floats are 'El Carmen' from the Church of All Saints, 'Thirst' from the Immaculate Conception Parish, 'San Bernardo' from St. Bernard's Church and 'The Good End' from the Convent of St. Anthony of Padua.
• • April 6, 2023 (Holy Thursday): On this day, the brotherhoods make their station before the cathedral's Eucharistic monument. Seven Brotherhoods composed of 14 floats hold their processions, the most prominent being 'The Little Black Ones' from the Chapel of the Angels, 'Montesión' from the Church of All Saints, 'The Cigar-maker's Guild' from St. Stephen's Church and 'Exaltation' from the University Chapel. Undoubtedly, the greatest event is La Madrugá, which on the night of Holy Thursday to Good Friday marks the most special moment of the Sevillian Holy Week and the culmination of all processions.
• • April 7, 2023 (Good Friday): This is the central day of all the mysteries that the Church celebrates, commemorating the passion and death of Jesus. Seven brotherhoods hold their processions, the most prominent floats being 'The Carretería' from the Carretería Chapel, 'La Soledad' from the Convent of St. Buena Ventura, 'El Cachorro' from the Chapel of the Patronage and 'La O' from the Church of La O.
• • April 8, 2023 (Holy Saturday): On this day, the body of Jesus is taken down from the Cross and transferred to the sepulcher. It is the anticipation of the Resurrection, in which five brotherhoods hold their station of penance. The most prominent floats are 'Del Sol' from St. Diego de Alcalá Parish, 'Los Servitas' from the Chapel of Sorrows, 'The Trinity' from the Church of the Trinity and 'The Holy Burial' from the Convent of St. Gregory.
• • April 9, 2023 (Easter Sunday): This is a day of joy for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. A single brotherhood composed of 2 floats holds its procession through the streets of Seville on Easter Sunday: the 'Brotherhood of the Resurrection' from Santa Marina Church.

The most popular brotherhoods of Seville are those of the Great Power, Esperanza Macarena, Esperanza de Triana and Los Gitanos. To find out how the dates of Holy Week are calculated for 2023, you may be interested to know that they depend on the lunar calendar and Easter.