Holy Week in Granada 2025 – Easter Celebrations, Processions and Events

In Spain, Easter festivities begin on Palm Sunday and conclude on Easter Sunday, lasting 8 days. Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are recognized as bank holidays.


The Holy Week (Semana Santa) processions in Granada are notably distinct when compared to those in other Andalusian cities.

It is renowned for the simplicity and beauty of its "pasos" (floats or thrones carrying the Christ and the Virgen), as well as for the distinctive settings of the processions.

The streets of Albaicín, for example, with their narrow and winding paths and characteristic cobblestones, provide a unique backdrop for the procession of the Virgen de la Aurora and the Concepción.

Unforgettable experiences await the visitor, such as the procession of "el Silencio" (Silence) and "el Cristo de los Gitanos" (Christ of the Gypsies) returning to their home churches after midnight through the street of Carrera del Darro.

And let's not forget the beautiful backdrop, with the Alhambra atop its moonlit hill.

The dates of Easter Week vary each year and typically align with the first full moon of the spring equinox.

In the year 2025, Holy Week is celebrated in Granada from April 13th to April 20th.

Maundy Thursday falls on April 17th, and Good Friday falls on April 18th, 2025.

Good Friday is the day with the most processions in the streets of Granada, totaling six. On Holy Saturday, there is only one procession, the Santa Maria de la Alhambra.

During Holy Week in Granada, thirty-two brotherhoods with more than two thousand 'costaleros' carry fifty-eight processional floats through the main streets of the city leading to the Cathedral, where they all make the Station of Penitence.

They all follow the official itinerary, which begins at the Official Tribune on Angel Ganivet street (near Puerta Real), where local authorities receive each cofradía (fraternity or brotherhood) one by one.


If you wish to see all the processions, it's advisable to wait at a location along the route indicated on the map. However, these streets tend to be the most crowded.

Palm Sunday in Granada - Popular Processions

On Palm Sunday, five 'cofradías' (fraternities) parade through the streets of Granada.

When the doors of St. Andrew's Church open for the popular "La Burriquilla" procession, it marks the beginning of Holy Week in Granada.

This procession symbolizes the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, and many children participate by dressing up in biblical costumes and carrying palms.

The best place to see it is when it passes under the Arco de Elvira.

The procession of the 'Cautivo' and the 'Virgen de la Encarnación' emerge from the church of Sagrario, next to the Cathedral.

The Church of Santo Domingo, located in the heart of the historic district of Realejo, opens its doors for the procession of 'Santa Cena Sacramental and Maria Santísima de la Victoria'.

Also the right at the foot of the Alhambra, the procession of 'Nuestro Padre Jesús de la Sentencia and María Santísima de las Maravillas' emerges from the church of San Pedro and San Pablo.

Finally, the procession of 'Nuestro Padre Jesús Despojado' emerges at 19:15.

Procession Routes and Schedules – Palm Sunday in Granada, April 13 2025

Holy Monday in Granada - 14 April 2025

On Monday, the popular neighbourhood of Zaidín initiates its Holy Week festivities with its youngest 'cofradía': the 'Santisimo Cristo del Trabajo and Nuestra Señora de la Luz'.

They make their way to the centre of Granada from the church of Corpus Christi.

And l ater on, once again from the devoted neighbourhood of Realejo, a solemn procession takes place: 'Nuestro Senor en el Huerto de los Olivos' and 'Maria Santísima de la Amargura'.

The 'Virgen de los Dolores' emerges onto the beautiful street of Carrera del Darro from the church of San Pedro and San Pablo.

And 'Nuestro Padre Jesús del Rescate' begins its journey in the heart of Granada, at the Parish church of Santa María Magdalena.

Undoubtedly, the oldest cofradía of the day in Granada is the 'Santísimo Cristo de San Agustin' (XVII century).

It emerges from the church of the Monastery of the Ángel Custodio.

Procession Routes and Schedules - Holy Monday in Granada, 14 April 2025

Holy Tuesday in Granada - 15 April 2025

The festivities start once again from Zaidín neighbourhood on Tuesday, with the procession of the 'Santísimo Cristo de la Lanzada and María Santísima de la Caridad'.

And many expectant people congregate in Plaza Nueva, waiting to see the procession of 'Nuestro Padre Jesús del Gran Poder and Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza'.

There is an amazing atmosphere when these impressive floats representing the scenes come out of the church of San Gil and Santa Ana.

If you stay in the Plaza Nueva, you will see another procession:

'Nuestro Padre Jesús de la Amargura and Nuestra Señora de los Reyes', which departs from the chapel attached to the temple of San Juan de los Reyes (the first catholic church blessed by Isabel and Fernando in Granada).

Finally, in Realejo, the last procession of the day leaves from the most important church of the neighbourhood, Santo Domingo.

You can see the cofradía of the 'Señor de la Humildad y la Virgen de la Soledad'.

Procession Routes and Schedules – Holy Tuesday in Granada, 15 April 2025

Holy Wednesday in Granada - 16 April 2025

The first procession of the day to arrive at Calle Ganivet is the 'Santísimo Cristo del Consuelo y María Santísima del Sacromonte', known as "Los Gitanos" (the gypsies).

This is one of the most beautiful and breathtaking processions of the Holy Week in Granada.

Undoubtedly, one of the best places to see it is on its way back to the Sacromonte Abbey on top of the Sacromonte, where the gypsies receive the floats with bonfires and saetas (prayers sung in flamenco style without instruments).

However, this takes place almost at dawn, and it's a long way from the city center.

The University of Granada has its own cofradía, whose icons are those of 'Nuestro Señor de la Meditación and María Santísima de los Remedios'.

Their procession leaves the university chapel (the parish church of the Santos Justo y Pastor).

Holy Wednesday is a significant day at the Realejo: three processions parade from their churches.

The costaleros (float bearers) of 'Nuestro Padre Jesús de la Paciencia and María Santísima de las Penas' struggle to pass through the narrow doors of the church of San Matías and down the steps that lead to the street of San Matías. This is the best point to see it.

And the crowds wait in the square by Santo Domingo church to see the popular procession of the 'Virgen del Rosario y Nuestro Padre Jesús de las Tres Caídas'.

You will see the purple nazarenos of the cofradía of 'Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno and María Santísima de la Merced' arriving to Plaza de Santo Domingo from the Monastery of the Carmelitas Descalzas.

Procession Routes and Schedules – Holy Wednesday in Granada, 16 April 2025

Maundy Thursday in Granada - 17 April 2025

Maundy Thursday, is certainly the Albaicín's big day, when thousands of people flood the neighborhood looking for the best spot to watch their cofradías (fraternities).

'Nuestro Padre Jesús del Perdón and María Santísima de la Aurora' leaves San Miguel Bajo church, winding its way through the narrow streets.

Another spectacular procession emerges from the Monastery de la Concepción: the Virgen de la Concepción with  Nuestro Padre Jesús del Amor y la Entrega.

It is a unique experience to feel the atmosphere of this old neighborhood, and it is also very special to see all these processions returning to their churches in the early hours of the morning.

The procession of María Santísima de la Estrella and Nuestro Padre Jesús de la Pasión will be climbing the very steep Cuesta de la Alhacaba to return to the church of San Cristóbal at the very top of the Albaycín.

And the last procession to start its parade on Maundy Thursday is called the silence: 'el Silencio'.

At the stroke of midnight, from the parish church by the Carrera del Darro, this beautiful float made by José de Mora in the XVII century parades through the streets of Granada accompanied only by drumbeats.

There will be no processional marches, only the sound of footsteps of the costaleros.

There will be no festive atmosphere, only one of penitance and silence. When they pass, street lights go out.

Procession Routes and Schedules – Maundy Thursday in Granada, 17 April 2025

Good Friday in Granada - 18 April 2025

There are six processions in Granada on Good Friday, so it is not easy to decide which ones to see. The most popular event of the day takes place in the Campo del Príncipe.

In the heart of the Realejo more than 5000 people gather every year to recite the traditional prayers before the statue of Señor de los Favores (built in 1682).

The brotherhoods of 'la Virgen de la Soledad' and 'el Santísimo Cristo de los Favores' parade on the streets of Granada.

And next to the River Genil embankment, the procession of the 'Santisimo Cristo de la Expiración and Maria Santisima del Mayor Dolor' departs from the parish church of San José de Calasanz.

One of the best places to see it is when it crosses the Roman Bridge next to the Carrera del Darro.

On the other side of town, people gather at the doors of the Monastery of San Jerónimo to witness the carrying-out of the spectacular 'Soledad', one of the most beautiful floats in the Semana Santa of Granada.

See the outstanding beauty in the sadness of its face. It follows the Holy Sepulchre accompanied by a uniquely fascinating cortège.

This is Granada's oldest brotherhood, with origins dating back to 1521.

Finally, we return to the Plaza Nueva to witness the procession known as "el Entierro de Cristo" (the Entombment of Christ), emerging from the parish church of San Gil y Santa Ana.

Procession Routes and Schedules – Good Friday in Granada, 18 April 2025

Holy Saturday in Granada - 19 April 2025

On Holy Saturday in Granada, the attention is focused on the Alhambra.

This is the sole procession in Seville on this day and originates from a church nestled within its most famous monument: Santa Maria de la Alhambra, inside the Alhambra enclosure.

The float to be paraded is a sculpture of the Virgen de las Angustias, the protector of Granada, dating back to 1750, crafted by Ruiz del Peral.

This procession descends from the Alhambra, passing by some spectacular locations within the monument.

It is recommended to witness this procession from within the confines of the Alhambra.

Its passage through the Puerta de la Justicia (Door of Justice) of the Alhambra is particularly noteworthy.

Procession Routes and Schedules – Holy Saturday, 19 April 2025

Easter Sunday - The Last Day of Holy Week, 20 April 2025

On Easter Sunday, all the bells in Granada toll joyfully as processions take to the streets in the morning.

A procession from Church of Santo Domingo departs from the Church of Santo Agustin. These children participating in the procession are called 'the Facundillos'.

They carry a small float of a throne with a beautiful image of the Infant Christ, accompanied by many other children playing musical instruments.

Traditionally, all the children who come to see this procession carry small bells and jingle them loudly.

This procession passes throughthe Calle Ganivet (the Official Tribune), and proceeds to the Cathedral.

Two more processions conclude the Holy Week festivities in Granada.

The first cofradía, 'Nuestro Señor de la Resurrección and Santa María del Triunfo', departs from the from the Church of San Miguel Arcángel.

From the Church of Sagrario, next to the Cathedral at 11:00, thenazarenos of the 'Resucitado and Nuestra Señora de la Alegría' walk slowly through the streets.

Procession Routes and Schedules – Easter Sunday in Granada, 20 April 2025

---

Was this information helpful? Have you visited these sights? We'd love to

hear your thoughts.

© Copyright • LoveGranada.com • Any use of the content, including copying of it in whole or in part is prohibited.

Follow us on our social networks

If you find this information useful, please share it

See More Reviews

Amazing Weekend City Break

Just got back to UK on Tuesday morning after fantastic long weekend in Granada (11-14 April).

Stayed in Calle Navas, great tapas bars in street. Loved the City and exploring all the narrow alleyways especially in Albayzin district, walked till we virtually dropped.

La Alhambra so beautiful and calm and Easter processions were simply amazing, finished our last night at a Flamenco show.

Simply the most wonderful city break, would love to go back and stay all of holy week.