Don’t miss out on Madrid’s Easter Week Activities!
This week is Holy Week, which is a big event in Spain. Since most people take vacation time, half the city clears out. For those of you that will be staying here, you’ll get to enjoy the festivities without big crowds, which is a welcome relief.
There are many festive events going on in Madrid during Holy Week. Of course, the most famous events are the procesiones, or religious processions with statues of Jesus and Mary. At these religious parades, costaleros—who are members of religious brotherhoods—carry heavy statues of Mary or Jesus on floats or platforms. Many of the statues, which can weigh up to 2000 kilos, were made by master artisans centuries ago. The crowd watches, occasionally shouting “guapa!” (pretty) as the statue of the Virgin goes by.
Nazarenos and penitents also join the parade, wearing heavy robes and tall pointy hats that look a lot like Klu Klux Klan hats. Marching bands also join in, adding to the overall atmosphere of festivity.
The official Holy Week website for Madrid lists all the activities for the week here. The final activity on Sunday 20 April is the Tamborrada, a spectacular drum parade that is worth catching. It starts at Plaza Mayor at noon.
The typical Spanish dessert for Holy Week is torrijas, which are quite similar to French toast. All you need to make them are an hour and a half, and a few simple ingredients. Try this Torrijas Recipe.
Below are all the processions that will take place in Madrid this week:
Church: Nuestro Padre Jesús de La Salud “Los Gitanos”
Wednesday 16 April at 20:30
Starts here: Parroquia Nuestra Señora del Carmen y San Luis
Address: Calle Carmen, 10
Church: Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno “el Pobre” y María Santísima del Dulce Nombre
Thursday 17 April at 19:00
Starts here: Iglesia de San Pedro
Address: Calle Nuncio, 14
Church: El Divino Cautivo
Thursday 17 April at 19:00
Starts here: Colegio Calasancio de los PP Escolapios
Address: Calle General Díaz Porlier, 58
Church: Nuestro Padre Jesús del Gran Poder y María Santísima de la Esperanza Macarena
Thursday 17 April at 20:00
Starts here: Real Colegiata de San Isidro
Address: Calle Toledo, 37
Church: Jesús Nazareno de Medinaceli
Friday 18 April at 19:00
Starts here: Iglesia-basílica de Nuestro Padre Jesús de Medinaceli de los PP Capuchinos
Address: Plaza de Jesús
Church: Santísimo Cristo de los Alabarderos
Friday 18 April at 19:00
Starts here: Iglesia Catedral Castrense
Address: Calle Sacramento, 11
Church: Procesión del Silencio
Friday 18 April at 19:00
Starts here: Iglesia del Santísimo Cristo de la Fe
Address: Calle Atocha, 87 bis
Church: El Divino Cautivo
Friday 18 April at 19:30
Starts here: Colegio Calasancio de los PP Escolapios
Address: Calle General Díaz Porlier, 58
Church: María Santísima de los Siete Dolores
Friday 18 April at 19:30
Starts here: Parroquia de Santa Cruz
Address: Calle Atocha, 6
Church: Santo Entierro
Friday 18 April at 20:30
Starts here: Parroquia de Santa Cruz
Address: Calle Atocha, 6
Church: Virgen Dolorosa
Saturday 19 April at 08:00
Starts here: Iglesia-basílica de Nuestro Padre Jesús de Medinaceli de los PP Capuchinos
Address: Plaza de Jesús
Church: Procesión de la Soledad
Saturday 19 April at 16:30
Starts here: Real Iglesia de San Ginés
Address: Calle Arenal, 13
