Thousands of people visit Madrid during Holy Week to witness some of the processions passing through the streets of the city. The sounds of trumpets and drums, the colourful costumes and the passion of those present, are what Holy Week (or Semana Santa) in Madrid is all about. Today’s article by ShMadrid will tell you more.
Related article: What to Do in Madrid during Holy Week
2020 Calendar of the best Holy Week activities in Madrid
Madrid always celebrates Holy Week with true devotion. Concerts with sacred music take place in its churches, while priest fraternities leave in procession, after having been preparing themselves thoroughly throughout the entire year.
Photo via Pixabay
Festive events actually begin a few days before the official start of Holy Week, although the calendar indicates that in 2020 it is from April 5 to 12. During these days, the brotherhood will visit the streets with different processions. The following Holy Week processions really stand out:
- On April 5 at 19:00h, on Palm Sunday:
- La Procesión de los Estudiantes will take place. El Cristo de la Fe y el Perdón will leave from Basilica Pontificia de San Miguel, which is at Carrer San Justo in the district of Centro.
- On April 8 at 20:15h, on Holy Wednesday:
- La Procesión de los Gitanos will take place. It will leave from Parroquia Nuestra Señora del Carmen y San Luis in Carrer de Carmen, which is also in Centro.
- On April 9 at 19:00h, on Holy Thursday:
- La Procesión del Pobre will take place. The procession of María Santísima del Dulce Nombre y Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno El Pobre will start at Iglesia de San Pedro (in Centro).
- La Procesión del Divino Cautivo will leave from Colegio Calasancio (in the district of Salamanca).
- La Procesión del Gran Poder y la Macarena will start at Real Colegiata de San Isidro (from the district of Centro).
Related article: Enjoy Your Spring in Madrid
Photo via Pixabay
- On April 10, on Good Friday, there will be the highest number of processions:
- La Procesión de Jesús de Medinaceli will start at 19:00h and will depart from Basílica de Nuestro Padre Jesús de Medinaceli (Plaza de Jesús in Centro).
- La Procesión del Cristo de los Alabarderos will start at 19:00h at the Royal Palace.
- La Procesión del Silencio will start at 19:00h at Iglesia del Santísimo Cristo de la Fe (in Calle de Atocha).
- La Procesión del Divino Cautivo starts at 19:30h from Colegio Calasancio (Calle General Díaz Porlier in the district of Salamanca).
- La Procesión de los Siete Dolores starts at 19:30h at Iglesia de Santa Cruz from Colegio Calasancio (in Calle de Atocha).
- On April 11, on Holy Saturday:
- La Procesión de la Soledad (a parade with drums and Santo Entierro de Móstoles) will leave at 16:00h from Iglesia de las Calatravas (at Calle Alcalá).
- La Procesión de la Dolorosa starts at 20:00h and will begin at Basílica de Nuestro Padre Jesús de Medinaceli (at Plaza de Jesús in Centro).
- On April 12, on Easter Sunday:
- La Tamborrada will start at Plaza Mayor at 12:00.
In addition to all the processions mentioned in this blog article, Madrid City Council organizes several special concerts with Baroque music and Gregorian chants in its churches. The programme is varied and includes workshops, flamenco saetas (emotional songs) and theatre performances.
Which of these Holy Week activities will you be joining?
