Viernes Santo, Good Friday in Malaga City © Michelle Chaplow |
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Semana Santa in Malaga
Guide to Holy Week / Semana Santa in Andalucia
Semana Santa processions explained in detail
Málaga's Holy Week celebrations were declared to be of interest to International Tourism in 1965 and they have also obtained the regional stamp of approval "Fiesta of National Interest". Thousands of visitors from across Spain and abroad come to follow the processions throughout the city's historic centre.
Málaga's Cofradías are active all year and regularly hold special meetings and masses with the aim of providing members with ongoing religious training as well as encouraging worship and acts of charity. The city has the region's oldest federation of Cofradías, which goes back to 1921.
Each procession starts from the different houses of the cofradias in the city centre. Look out for the buildings with huge, double-storey wooden doors. From there they take different routes, but all converge on the Alhameda, Calle Larios, Plaza de la Constitucion (where there is a tribune for civic dignitaries) and Malaga Cathedral.
It is possible to hire seats on the Alameda Principal. However, this must be arranged far in advance. Hotel Room Mates Larios has some bedrooms and cafe/restaurant with privileged overlooking Calle Larios and the processions. Book early!
 Even the youngest take part — children join the Holy Week processions, celebrating tradition with their families |
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All of the local newspapers in Málaga publish schedules for the Holy Week processions. These guides are in Spanish but usually have helpful route maps and timetables that are easy to decipher.
If you're not a fan of late night activity, then try catching some of the mid-day processions.
Antonio Banderas and Semana Santa in Malaga
Every year Málaga born actor Antonio Banderas makes an enormous effort to spend Semana Santa in Málaga city where he leads the Virgin de las Lágrimas y Favores (Virgen of Tears and Favours) procession. 2023 was no exception, just before the procession left, he posted on Instagram, (see above), wishing everyone a happy Palm Sunday. More >
Ojeda Family’s Religious Artifacts Shop
Tucked away in the heart of Málaga’s historic centre, at No. 8 Calle San Juan, lies a truly extraordinary find for the curious traveler: a family-run shop steeped in tradition and devotion, dedicated entirely to the sale of religious artifacts. Specialising in items for Holy Week (Semana Santa), Corpus Christi, and Christmas, this shop is more than just a place of commerce—it is a living testament to the city's spiritual and cultural heritage. More >
Malaga Holy Week Museum
If you don't happen to be in Malaga around Semana Santa, the Malaga Holy Week Museum is open all year-round and displays processional robes and thrones from Holy Week as well as music, art and exhibitons about the traditions.
 Experience the mystique and tradition of Málaga this Holy Week on Martes Santo, where centuries-old rituals come to life. |
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Discover more about Semana Santa in Andalucia.
 Historic Holy Week throne processions wind through the streets of Malaga's historic quarter, blending centuries-old traditions with breathtaking craftsmanship. |
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Semana Santa Itineraries for Malaga city.
The itineraries for the Malaga Easter Week procession in 2025 have been published by the Agrupación de Cofradías (Brotherhoods Group) and are similar every year. There are about seven different processions every day from Palm Sunday to Good Friday. None on Easter Saturday and a small one on Easter Sunday morning.
Each procession starts and finishes in its own chapel. In general the routes focus on the old city to the north of the Alhameda. There is a common section of route called the 'corrida oficial' between Plaza de la Constitución, along Calle Larios, Calle Martínez, Calle Atarazanas, Calle Torregorda, the Alameda Principal, Plaza de la Marina, Calle Molino Lario and Plaza del Obispo for the Cathedral.
Download a PDF of the full list of processions and routes.
Palm Sunday - 13th April 2025
The following eight processions take part: Pollinica, Lágrimas y Favores de Fusionadas, Humildad y Paciencia, Dulce Nombre, Salutación, Humildad, Salud, Huerto and Prendimiento. Palm Sunday is a highlight, with children carrying palm branches in the processions.
Pollinica, the fist precession of the week, leaves its chapel in calle Parras at 09.45, arrives at the Tribune in Plaza de la Constitucion at 12.15, passes through the Cathedral at 14.25 and returns to its chapel at 16.30.
Lágrimas y Favores de Fusionadas, (Antonio Banderas' brotherhood) leaves the Iglesia de San Juan in calle San Juan at 15.20, arrives at the Tribune in Plaza de la Constitución at 15.50, passes through the Cathedral at 18.00 and returns to its church at 23.30.
Easter Monday - 14th April 2025
The following six processions take part: Crucifixión, Pasión, Gitanos, Dolores del Puente, Cautivo and Estudiantes. In the Gitanos member of the gypsy community carry their icon and add their culture to the procession. Cautivo is one of the best know with the largest brotherhood in Malaga.
Easter Tuesday - 15th April 2025
The following seven processions take part: Rocío, Penas, Nueva Esperanza, Humillación y Estrella, Rescate y Sentencia. The Virgen of the Penas wears a spectacular view made of fresh flowers.
Easter Wednesday - 16th April 2025
The following seven processions take part: Mediadora, Salesianos, Fusionadas, Paloma, Rico, Sangre and Expiración. Jesus EL Rico is famous as the procession that follows the tradition of releasing a prisoner each year.
Maundy Thursday - 17th April 2025
The following eight processions take part: Cena, Santa Cruz, Viñeros, Vera Cruz de Fusionadas, Zamarrilla, Mena, Misericordia and Esperanza. Esperanza has the heaviest float in Málaga, weighing 5 tonnes. The Mena parade includes a troupe of Spanish Foreign Legionnaires.
Good Friday - 18th April 2025
The following seven processions take place: Monte Calvario, Descendimiento, Dolores de San Juan, Amor, Traslado, Piedad, Sepulcro and Servitas. The Good Friday processions are silent and without brass bands, just the slow beat of a drum or the tapping of a stick on the road to keep the procession in time.
Easter Sunday - 20th April 2025
A single procession takes part: Santísimo Cristo Resucitado y María Santísima Reina de los Cielos. The dark green and purple capes of the Nazarenes are exchanged for white and green robes.
Resucitado leaves its chapel in calle Nosquera at 10.00, arrives at the Tribune in Plaza de la Constitucion at 11.05, passes through the Cathedral at 13.00 and returns to its chapel at 15.15.
Semana Santa in the towns of Andalucia
Málaga's Holy Week celebrations were declared to be of interest to International Tourism in 1965 and they have also obtained the regional stamp of approval "Fiesta of National Interest". Thousands… More →
Each procession has a short name and an official long ecclesiastical name representing a part of the Easter story. the processions are organised by the brotherhood associations. The processions… More →
There are six days of processions in Estepona during Semana Santa. These days are Palm Sunday (Domingo de Ramas), Easter Wednesday (Miércoles Santo), Easter Thursday (Jueves Santo), Good Friday (… More →
Málaga's Holy Week celebrations were declared to be of interest to International Tourism in 1965 and they have also obtained the regional stamp of approval "Fiesta of National Interest". Thousands… More →
Jaen capital is yet another Andalusian city that has a certified "Fiesta of National Touristic Interest" and as in every other corner of the province, jinienses (residents of Jaen) believe their… More →
Like so many others, the Holy Week processions in Huelva are certified as "Fiesta of National Touristic Interest" and thus touted as one of the best in Spain (we'll leave that to each visitor to… More →
Processions take place throughout the province along with Passion Plays as well. There is one more special claim to fame by the provincial capital in that no where else in Andalucia can you… More →
Semana Santa is celebrated in Córdoba capital and throughout the province with numerous villages having obtained the government stamp of approval "Fiesta of National Touristic Andalucia".
Semana Santa in Cádiz province is celebrated with great fervour and passion. The provincial capital, Cádiz, holds tremendous, extravagant processions - on par with those of all the other… More →
We hear a lot about Holy Week in Seville and a few other provincial capitals like Huelva and Málaga, but very little about Almería. You might be surprised then to learn that Almería deserves more… More →
Strictly speaking this is a religious festival, but for most of the week, solemnity isn't the keynote - there's a lot of carousing and frivolity, and bars are full day and night with entire… More →
In 1993, a young woman from the village of Luque in Cordoba had the idea of creating an hermandad (church brotherhood which goes out in a procession in Holy Week) specifically for women. The… More →
Future Semana Santa Dates
Semana Santa future dates are found in the info box on our Semana Santa home page
 Step into the solemn beauty of Málaga on Viernes Santo |
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