Holy Week in Granada is a singular experience in which religion, tradition, art and culture come together in a celebration declared to be of International Tourist Interest. But, beyond the processions of the 32 religious brotherhoods and 58 floats in the capital, if you have the chance to enjoy Holy Week in Granada there are many other plans you can make to discover a city of unrivalled beauty.
You can take the opportunity during Holy Week in Granada to go on processions around the city, to try the traditional gastronomy of these dates or just to take part in different experiences that you might not even have imagined you could have.
You don't need to have a religious feeling to enjoy the Holy Week parades in Granada. The beauty of the parades makes this celebration a cultural and artistic event not to be missed. Which are the most remarkable parades?
The Borriquilla is the protagonist of Sunday. It is the little ones who take the lead with their palms held high as they walk through the city.
Los Gitanos is the most expected parade of the holy week in Granada. One of the most magical moments takes place on Wednesday, which ends at the Abadía del Sacromonte in the early hours in the morning.
The Madrugá takes the Albaicín as the stage for one of the most moving parades of holy Week, that of silence, which we recommend you experience on the Paseo de los Tristes, at the foot of the Alhambra.
The burial of Christ on Good Friday night, the descent of Santa María de la Alhambra into the streets of the city on Saturday and the festive atmosphere of Easter Sunday complete a Holy Week full of tradition and art.
Holy Wednesday is much more than just processions. The Gitano's parade invades Sacromonte with a spiritual atmosphere that is accompanied by flamenco.
Fires light up the route from the caves and houses of the neighbourhood, where the silence is broken by the sound of the saetas, which sound spontaneously throughout the procession of the Santísimo Cristo del Consuelo, the ‘Cristo de los gitanos’.
Seized that night of enchantment to visit the caves with that warm light is one of the best plans we can propose you.
You can't really enjoy a complete Holy Week if you don't try the typical gastronomy of this time of year. Cod dishes, or potaje de vigilia (with chickpeas and spinach) are the most typical of the varied flavours that this land has to offer.
To finish with a good taste in your mouth, there is nothing like the traditional sweets of this time of year. Special mention should be made of pestiños (fried fritters) and roscos fritos (fried bread rolls), simple but delicious recipes that you can try on your visit to the Nasrid city.
If you want to disconnect a little from the atmosphere of Holy Week, you want to take advantage of the time in the city to make other plans or you simply prefer other kinds of things to do at this time of the year, there are also many places to visit in the city.
Visiting Granada without visiting the Alhambra is almost a sin, and even more so at Holy Week! The history and beauty of this place are worth a place in your planner for this city break in the Nasrid city.
The Cathedral of Granada is a Renaissance work of architecture worthy of a visit and, although during Holy Week it will be complicated by the processions, a guided visit can be a good way to find out more about this architectural wonder.
Walking through the paved streets of the Albaicín and Sacromonte is another of the best activities you can plan for your visit. Getting lost in every corner and enjoying the views are unique experiences.
Views of the Albaicin quarter in Granada
Views of the Alhambra from the Sacromonte quarter in Granada
A visit to the Sierra Nevada will allow you to discover another of Granada's marvellous landscapes just a few kilometres from the city. Enjoying this natural environment is a highly recommended experience.
1. To enjoy holy week to the full, take note of these tips:
2. Book in advanced, as both hotels and restaurants cater for a large number of visitors during these days.
3. Planning your excursions and buying tickets to monuments, museums, etc. to ensure availability on the dates you are interested in.
4. Take advantage of the mornings to get to know the city because most of the parades take place in the afternoon and the city centre is more difficult to get through.
5. To see the parades, avoid the points where the processions start and close the processions and look for wide streets and elevated areas to avoid large crowds. Checking the itineraries will be a huge help.
Use public transport to get around or go on foot for short distances or walks through specific areas of the city. There will be traffic closures at many points, especially during the parades.
With these simple indications, you will be enjoying a memorable Holy Week in Granada and we are waiting for you at the Hotel Alhambra Palace to make your stay even more pleasant!
