HOLY WEEK (HUELVA AND SEVILLE) Since 1 april 2012 to 8 april 2012

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The processions, the art, the drama and the music carry on for the duration of Holy Week.

One of the two celebrations practically synonymous with Sevilla and Huelva is its spectacular Semana Santa (Holy Week), lasting from Palm Sunday until Easter Sunday. People from near and far, music, processions, and juxtaposing sentiments of solemnity and celebration saturate the normally tranquil atmosphere of Sevilla's winding, cobbled streets. 

The centuries-old tradition showcases the efforts of each of Sevilla's more than fifty cofradías (brotherhoods), some of which go back as far as a century and a half before America was even discovered. Each cofradía´s processional entourage includes hooded penitents- don't worry, the resemblance of those pointed hoods and long robes to those of the Ku Klux Klan is disconcerting but unrelated - and enormous ornate floats topped with images of the Virgin or of scenes from Christ's Passion. Thirty to forty hidden men, called costaleros, haul these massive floats upon their shoulders and uniformly move in time to the goosebump-inducing music of trumpets, coronets, and drums. While Semana Santa sparks celebrations throughout Spain, Sevilla's interpretation is world-famous for a reason. 

So, if you find yourself in Spain during Holy Week, this sensational religious display is calling your name. 

LaSaeta If you're lucky enough to be in Sevilla or Huelva during its spectacular Semana Santa, you're sure to hear another manifestation of flamenco in the form of a saeta. This is essentially a sung prayer dedicated to the Virgins carried during the Semana Santa processions. The float pauses and a singer, usually perched on a balcony, spontaneously bursts into this short but powerful song. The crowds remain silent and the procession doesn't set back into motion until the singer finishes his or her saeta.