Semana Santa (Holy Week) 2015 Timetable of processions

All this week final arrangements are being put in place for the processions taking place during Holy Week in Torrevieja. Each of the groups or cofradias taking part will be ensuring that the pasos or floats that they carry through the streets have been thoroughly prepared. This is the most important week in the religious calendar and in Torrevieja the processions have been declared an item of Provincial Tourist Importance, signifying the quality, magnificence and splendour of the occasions. The town will be busier than usual with many visitors coming to watch the processions

especially the one on Good Friday (Viernes Santo), which is the largest and longest of the processions featuring almost all of the cofradias and pasos.

The Holy Week processions follow the story of the last days of Jesus starting from his triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday (Domingo de Ramos) and ending with his Resurrection. The number of cofradias and pasos taking part in each of the processions varies. For example the International Cofradia consisting mainly but not entirely of British expats takes part in the processions on Monday night and again on Friday night.

The processions represent an opportunity for residents and visitors alike to witness a truly Spanish occasion. The timetable for the processions is given below and the route of each is also slightly different meaning that the time taken for the procession to complete its journey around the streets of the city is also different.

A beautifully presented booklet is available from the Semana Santa Museum behind restaurant Fu on the Avenida Balearies. It costs five euros and is full of beautiful photographs and articles some in English about Semana Santa. In addition contains full details of the route and timings of all the parades during holy week.

Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday March 29th) - commences at 10.30 am starting from the Sagrado Corazón church with the solemn blessing of palms and branches. The procession then makes its way to the Inmaculada church in the main square. Anyone can take part in the actual procession itself carrying palms and branches. There is also a different evening procession starting at 8.30 pm starting from the Sagrado Corazón church and ending at the Inmaculada church. Don’t forget that the clocks go forward early on the Sunday morning prior to the Palm Sunday procession.

Lunes Santo (Monday March 30th) - commences at 10.00 pm from the Inmaculada church in the main square. This features the two largest pasos that are carried by the International Cofradia of Jesus in the Garden of Olives and the paso of the Last Supper. Six other pasos take part in this the second longest procession which finishes where it started at the Inmaculada church.

Martes Santo (Tuesday March 31st) - commences at 10.00 pm from the Inmaculada church and as the Monday night procession it finishes where it started back at the Inmaculada church.

Miércoles Santo (Wednesday April 1st) - once again this procession starts at 10.00 pm but this is a slightly different event with pasos starting both from the Inmaculada church and from the Sagrado Corazón, meeting at the junction of calle Maria Parodi and Ramóm Gallud before setting off together to end at the Inmaculada church.

Jueves Santo (Thursday April 2nd) - there are two processions during this evening. The first procession, the Solemn Procession of Silence, starts at 11.00 pm from the Inmaculada church and is characterised by having only drums being sounded and with the street lights extinguished along the way. The second procession, the Solemn Procession of the Descent of Christ from Calvary, starts shortly after midnight at 12.30 from the Plaza del Calvario and as with the procession earlier in the evening is a silent procession with only the drums being heard and with streetlights subdued. The procession makes its way to finish at the Inmaculada church.

Viernes Santo (Good Friday April 3rd) - starting at 8.00 pm from the Inmaculada church this is the largest and the longest of the processions with 14 cofradias and 18 pasos taking part. The International Cofradia carrying the Paso of Jesus in the Garden of Olives is also taking part in this evening’s procession. Once again, as last year, the route of the procession will take it past the Sagrado Corazón church.

Sábado de Gloria (Saturday, April 4th) - starting at 10.30 pm from the Virgen de Carmen Cultural Centre this is the Popular Tamborada which as the name suggests consist of drum bands and signifies Christ’s victory over death. Anyone can join in with their own drum, young and old alike. The procession is an expression of joy at the resurrection of Jesus.

Domingo de Resurrección (Easter Sunday April 5th) - starting at 8.00 pm from the Inmaculada church this procession like the Wednesday night procession features a meeting (El Encuentro) of the pasos of St John the Evangelist and the Immaculate Conception (the patroness of Torrevieja), together with the Blessed Sacrament carried under a canopy. When the meeting takes place at the junction of calle Concepción and Fotógrafos Darblade flower petals are thrown into the air, hallelujahs ring out and the sound of explosions can be heard signifying that ‘Christ is risen’.