Easter Processions in Malaga Holy-Week, Costa del Sol
Since more than 500 years during the Easter Week parade processions through the streets during the Holy Week in Malaga. Each single parish church has its own so-called brotherhood (cofradia) which carries their heavy wooden altarpieces accompanied by a large numbers of followers.
The ‘official’ processional route of all the saints leads from the Alameda Principal to Calle Larios and Calle Granada in the city centre of Malaga and is about 800 m long. Along this route are set up tribunes and rows of chairs, offering about 25,000 seats. Most of the processions pass by Calle Carreteria whose staircase is known as “tribune of the poor”.
In the processions in Malaga much emphasis is placed on the moment of return to the church (encierro): The image of Christ is waiting at the door for the arrival of Maria. When they face each other, they are slightly swung or raised and lowered by the carriers and many of the gathered faithful applaud and praise the altarpieces.
If you want to experience the Easter processions with children do not miss on Palm Sunday morning the procession of ‘Pollinica’ in the city centre of Malaga. Between 10:30 am and 1 pm is carried a figure of Christ sitting on a donkey through the streets. In this procession always take part many children and it received its name from the donkey which is also carried.
There is a wide choice of hotels in Malaga. If you are located outside the city, it is advisable during Semana Santa to travel into the city centre by bus or suburban train, because the traffic and parking chaos is inevitable. In hotels and tourist offices, you will receive brochures with the procession routes and times to be fully informed.
