Easter Week in Malaga is a religious, social and cultural festival that is celebrated annually in the city with great pomp and devotion. This event, composed of45 processions, offers a unique experience that completely transforms the atmosphere of the city.
The heart of this celebration are the brotherhoods. They have a history dating back more than five centuries. These brotherhoods lead their titular images in procession from their places of origin to an official route in the historic center, some even make stops at the Cathedral during the penitence season.
A distinctive characteristic of Holy Week in Malaga is the way in which the thrones are carried, with external poles that require the collaboration of hundreds of people. In addition, Nazarenes, musicians, acolytes and military bodies participate in the processions, all of them essential elements in the event.
- Palm Sunday marks the beginning with nine processions, highlighting the emblematic brotherhood of Pollinica in the morning, followed by others such as Dulce Nombre, Humildad y paciencia, Salutacion, Ecce Homo, Salud, and the Virgin of Lagrimas y Favores in the afternoon.
- Easter Monday It is marked by the main procession of Jesús Captivo (with a number of brothers of 4,100 and a number of Nazarenes 900) from the Trinidad neighborhood, accompanied by the popular brotherhoods of the Gitanos and the Students, as well as the Virgen de los Dolores del Puente.
- Easter Tuesday It is characterized by the departure of the Virgen del Rocío, known as ‘la nocia de Málaga’, along with other classic brotherhoods such as the Estrella, el Rescate and la Sentencia, and also those of Las Penas and Nueva Esperanza.
- Easter Wednesday It is distinguished by the most classical processions, such as those of the Cofradías Fusionadas, La Paloma, Jesús ‘El rico’ (in this brotherhood they release a prisoner who has minor charges in the procession, completely in the Plaza del Obispo. The national police also parade in this procession), La Sangre, and the sumptuous brotherhood of La Expiración (the processions of La Expiración are one of the most comprehensive among all the brotherhoods of Malaga. The participation of the Civil Guard also stands out as one of the distinctive aspects of its procession), as well as La Mediadora de la Salvación and that of the Salesianos.
- Easter Thursday stands out with the procession of Hope, accompanied by others such as Misericordia, Zamarrilla, la Sagrada cena, Viñeros, la Congregacion de Mena (La Congregacion de Mena, whose official and full name is Pontificia y Real Congregación del Santísimo Cristo de la Buena Muerte y Ánimas and Nuestra Señora de la Soledad Coronada, el santisimo cristo de la buena muerte is the patron and protector of The Legion, which is why the legion parades that Thursday night with the congregation) and la Vera cruz, among others.
- Easter Friday It is characterized by the processions that leave from various historic neighborhoods, with brotherhoods such as La Victoria, La Malagueta, Trinidad and Molinillo, and others such as Amor and Monte Calvario, el Descendimiento, Soledad de San Pablo and Piedad, in addition of the emblematic brotherhood of the San Sepulcro.
- After a Easter Saturday without processions, Holy Week culminates the Easter Sunday with the procession of the Cristo Resucitado, organized by the Association of Brotherhoods. Each brotherhood offers a unique show in different parts of the city, such as exits and bull runs, crossing bridges, under the Alameda trees, along Larios Street and in the Cathedral.
Easter Week in Malaga is a spectacle for the senses. Imagine walking through the streets while the smell of incense surrounds you, mixing with the aroma of fresh flowers. And let’s not forget the salty sea air that also makes an appearance. But it’s not just smell that fills the air; The atmosphere is filled with exciting sounds: from the heavy walk of the thrones to the processional marches that make your hair stand on end, not to mention the shouts of encouragement to the sacred images, all of this to the rhythm of bands that play music that reaches you. to the soul.
Finally, we leave the itinerary for these days of passion in the city of Malaga so as not to miss a single illustrious moment of this great tradition. SEE ITINERARY
If you want to experience it closer, you can see our accommodation options in the city. CUBO’S HOLIDAY HOMES
Apart from central Málaga, very attractive activities are held in all the towns in the province, the most notable towns are:
- Antequera:
Known as the city of Torcal, it vigorously preserves its brotherly traditions and has a valuable cultural heritage. Among its peculiarities are the hermanucos, who carry the steps on their shoulders held with forks at the processional stops. The images rise on reel bases in vertical thrones, with Dolorosas on their front, highlighting the characteristic Antequera style.
- Velez-Malaga:
Holy Week, declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest, has nineteen Passion Brotherhoods that carry out a season of penance from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. Its processional parades have their roots in the 16th century.
- Archidona:
A great artistic wealth is preserved in the six Brotherhoods that make up its Holy Week. The bell ringers, dressed in tunics and scapulars, lead the processions with the rhythmic sound of their instruments. In addition, some brotherhoods maintain the Apostolate, a group of twelve members dressed in tunics, sandals, esparto belts and crowns of thorns, who carry crosses with the name of an apostle.
Traditionally, the Legion escorts El Cristo de la Misericordia, and the Civil Guard accompanies and escorts Nuestro padre Jesus de la Humildad.
- Ronda:
Holy Week has its roots in the conquest of the city by the Catholic Monarchs and has been declared of Andalusian Tourist Interest, with fifteen processional parades by fourteen Brotherhoods. Unlike other cities, in Ronda the steps are carried by costaleros or in some cases by forquilleros, highlighting the Domingo de Resurección, where Our nuestra señora de Loreto is carried exclusively by women.
- Rio Gordo (el paso):
The Riogordo Paso procession, recognized as a Festival of National Tourist Interest, has taken place every Friday and Holy Saturday for more than half a century. Although there are indications that suggest its existence since the 17th century, its current form was established in 1951, with a serious and meticulous representation.
More than 500 local amateur actors participate in this religious ceremony and it takes place in an outdoor space.
- Alhaurín de la torre:
Among many activities, on Good Friday, the Legion has the tradition of providing an honor guard to el cristo de la Vera cruz in the morning and escorting him in the afternoon in the transfer and procession.
- Alhaurín el Grande:
A very special moment for this religious celebration. The Brotherhood of Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno (called los Moraos) and the Brotherhood of La Santa Vera Cruz (called los Verdes) come together to commemorate La Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Among the most notable activities is the live representation of the Passion of Jesus, as well as the meticulous processions that run through the streets. The rich tradition of Easter Week in Alhaurín el Grande, and its tourist importance, has been recognized at the national level, being designated as a Festival of National Tourist Interest of Andalusia.