Destination Spotlight - Spain this Easter

Granada	Mallorca	Gran Canaria

Explore Granada, Spain this Easter

From Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, Semana Santa (16th – 23rd March 2008) is one of Andalucia’s biggest annual festivals and visitors flock to Granada every year to watch the large processions of traditional floats which depict the Easter story.

The streets echo with the solemn drum beats and traditional saetas (devotional songs). Each day brings another procession and, for those who have not participated before, the change of mood throughout the week is particularly striking. The most somber processions occur on Good Friday (depicting the crucifixion of Christ) and the most joyous on Easter Sunday (celebrating Christ's resurrection from the dead).

Each “hermandad” or brotherhood leads its own procession, each equally proud of their traditional floats (pasos). These floats, containing statues of the Virgin Mary and Jesus, are carried by up to 40 young men and followed by women and children dressed in black. Brass bands, playing mournful music, accompany their steps.

Most processions wind their way slowly around the city, taking in the Town Hall in the Plaza de Carmen and the Cathedral.

If you can visit for longer than just the weekend, the unique Wednesday procession (Christ of Sacromonte/the Gypsies) is particularly worth seeing - a 12 hour procession up the mount to the 17th century Sacromonte Abbey amidst bonfires and passionate chanting. The Silent Maundy Thursday procession on the following day is also unique.

There are celebrations across Spain (with notable exceptions in Madrid and Barcelona) and each village and town marks the occasion with its own procession and festivities. As well as Granada, the cities of Seville and Cadiz are particularly popular with visitors for Easter. But if you are planning to visit, remember to book your accommodation and car hire early.

Remember Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays and many local shops and services will be closed.

More about Granada

Many guidebooks are devoted to this spectacular city but the sites which attract most visitors are:

The Alhambra - overlooking the town with stunning views of the surrounding countryside, the Alhambra comprises the Royal Palace, the Generalife Gardens and the Alcazaba. The Royal Palace was home to Moorish rulers from the 13th century until their defeat by “Los Reyes Catolicos” Ferdinand and Isabel in 1492. They themselves lived here for a time, converting the mosque, but by the 18th century it was being used as a prison. In 1812 it was occupied and severely damaged by Napoleon’s troops, falling into disrepair. Its historic value was only recognized in 1870 when it was declared a national monument and restoration began. The work is still ongoing today but much of the Moorish splendour has now been recreated for tourists to enjoy. It is advisable to book ahead as numbers are limited and queues can be long. Tickets cost approximately 10 euros per person and can be booked online at http://www.alhambratickets.com There are two car parks at the Generalife Gardens or a shuttle bus runs regularly from the town centre (numbers 30 and 32). The walk from the town centre is picturesque but is not recommended for those with walking difficulties and is fairly steep, particularly if you take the “Cuesta del Rey Chico” route.

The Albaicin – this is the old Moorish quarter, located on a hill facing the Alhambra with fantastic views of the palace gardens. Here you’ll find the remains of the Moorish public baths and a selection of souvenir shops. The Church of San Nicolás is worth a visit since it offers one of the best views of the Alhambra and the Generalife Gardens.

The Cathedral - built on the site of the former Mosque, the cathedral is a fine example of renaissance architecture. On the same site are the Merchants' Exchange and La Capilla Real. This Royal Chapel holds the tombs of the Catholic Kings Ferdinand and Isabel who chose to be buried in Granada because they saw its conquest as the crowning achievement of their reign.

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