Talking about Holy Week in Seville means talking about a tradition that spans more than 400 years, about days when the whole city immerses itself in the experience, about a Festival of International Tourist Interest that is not explained, it is lived. Because, although we will try, how can we truly describe the overwhelming silence that fills the streets, the imposing pasos moving slowly through the crowds, carried by costaleros walking beneath them, that scent of incense that seems to wrap around everything, or the emotion you feel when you hear a saeta?

Between Viernes de Dolores (March 27) and Easter Sunday (April 5), around 60 brotherhoods take to the streets in procession carrying their pasos to recreate the different moments of the Passion and death of Christ. Each with its own identity and all worthy of admiration.

Even so, we know that the nighttime processions are especially moving, advancing slowly with the light of candles illuminating the scene; and that the moment everyone wants to witness is La Madrugá. It takes place from Maundy Thursday to Good Friday, when six of the most important brotherhoods pass through the city centre: El Silencio, La Macarena, El Gran Poder, El Calvario, Esperanza de Triana and Los Gitanos.

Plan your trip: enjoying Holy Week like this means not leaving your accommodation booking until the last minute. We make it easy for you: Sercotel hotels in Seville are devoted to taking care of you and making everything simpler. Some are so centrally located that simply stepping outside is enough to find yourself right in the middle of the processions.

Holy Week in Málaga is, of course, a religious celebration; but the truth is that it also goes beyond the spiritual to offer anyone who witnesses it a true display of art and tradition. And it is curious, always is, but even more so in a city with such a relaxed Mediterranean atmosphere, that for a few days you might find yourself in situations as picturesque as sitting on a terrace enjoying a beer and suddenly being surprised by the passing of a trono just a few metres away.

And Málaga’s tronos are truly something to admire. Not only are they authentic works of art, they are also enormous and become even more spectacular as they move forward in a silence broken only by the sound of the steps of those carrying them or the music of the processional marches. It is impressive to see them winding through the city streets and moving to admire them in all their splendour when they pass along Calle Larios.

If you ask us, among the most curious processions we would highlight La Pollinica. It takes place on Palm Sunday and is led by children dressed as nazarenos. Also the procession of Jesús “El Rico” (Holy Wednesday), when a prisoner without blood crimes is released, respecting a privilege that dates back to the reign of King Charles III; and, of course, the procession of the Cristo de la Buena Muerte, which, accompanied by the Spanish Legion, leaves the whole city in silence.

Plan your trip: you focus on noting the days, times and routes of the processions, and we will take care of your comfort. In Sercotel hotels in Málaga you will find a great location, comfortable rooms and restaurants to recharge your energy… in short, the complete combination.

If Holy Week in Andalusia is always a serious affair, imagine when the one we are talking about is Granada’s. Here, the grandeur of the processions is joined by the beauty and vibrancy of the setting. That said, we should warn you: forget everything you think you know about the city because during these days Granada transforms to host a celebration declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest.

This transformation is led by the city’s 32 brotherhoods, responsible for carrying religious sculptures through the streets of Granada. And when we say throughout the city, we also mean the steep and narrow streets of the Sacromonte. It is precisely in this neighbourhood where one of the most magical moments of Holy Week takes place. It happens on Holy Wednesday, when the caves begin to fill with bonfires to welcome the Cristo de los Gitanos.

On Holy Thursday, you may want to leave the Sacromonte and head to the Albaicín to witness the procession of the Cristo del Silencio. The only sound you will hear in its streets is the beat of a single drum. And if you want to see the parade of the oldest brotherhood, the Soledad de San Jerónimo, you will have to wait until Good Friday. The uniqueness of this procession lies in its cortege, made up of Roman soldiers striking the ground with their spears and participants representing figures from the Bible.

Plan your trip: we only ask you to do one thing, decide what kind of getaway you are planning. Whether it is as a couple, with friends or with family, choose the Sercotel hotel in Granada that best fits your plans. Whichever you choose, feeling right at home comes as part of the experience.