Annette

My husband and I want to spend Holy Week in Andalusia for 2002. I'm just beginning to read about Spain (Michner's Iberia, thanks to the recent Spain reading list here at Fodors)and have never been to Spain or anywhere in Southern Europe.

We can make a trade for very nice accomodation in a timeshare (Barratt Dona Lola in Mijas-Costa) on the Costa De Sol and see the processions in Malaga forty minutes away. This would cost us next to nothing and, naturally, that is the attraction of this option. Or we can spend the week in Sevilla in a hotel, which would seem to provide an exciting experience. However, I have read that the Malaga processions rival those in Seville. To complicate matters, I am spending a week in a Malaga timeshare in December of this year with girlfriends who want to sightsee. What a wonderful problem to wallow in! Are there any Spain experts out there who want to give solicited advice?

Annette

Whooaa, Nelly, that's adviCe sought - I've just comitted the message board ultimate misspell faux pas ;(

Pedro

Holy week in Sevilla and Malaga are both intense and interesting to see but also quite different. Sevilla is narrow streets,processions, music, smells, tapas, dark places, and a lot of people everywhere, I think it is quite an experience, specially if you are staying at a well located place in the heart of the Old Town. Malaga is wider streets, big newer pasos, the sound of a little bell, the sea breeze,lots of flowers, also a lot of people. There is a rivalty among them, it is just a stupid thing but they are big cities and rivals almost in everything. I think Holy Week in Sevilla is somehow more traditional ( brotherhoods are in fact older ) and more art-related ,self-contained ( as following some non written rules comparing with sometimes excesive baroque and imagination in Malaga ) and other famous Holy Week celebrations in Andalucia as Cordoba or Jerez ones resemble proccesions in Sevilla. I could be hours writing about small differences among processions in Sevilla and Malaga but donīt want to seem boring.

Annette

Thanks, Pedro, for your interesting insight. I'm interested to know your preference in case you are prejudiced toward one of these cities. Also, I'm shamelessly bringing this to the top in hope of further comment.

Susan

I spent my junior year of college in Sevilla...That sets me up for a definite bias towards Sevilla but you know the saying, Sevilla...que maravilla! The processiones in Sevilla are amazing. I vividly remember the pagan-like chants to the Virgen Macarena. I think she only comes out in certain years, though-I think from Barrio Triana...Make sure you try churros y chocolate and Bar Iberia has the best paella...I don't know if this helps you...Ten un buen viaje y diviertete en las fiestas!

maria

Annette,

My husband and I were in Spain last year during Holy Week (In Castilla and La Mancha) and the ceremonies and processions were incredible. I would highly suggest that you choose to be in the city watching processions where your accomodations are as many of the processions last for many hours and well into the night and you do not want to have to drive another 40 minutes back. Also, consider that almost all towns are completely full of people and tourists as many Spainairds return to their hometowns for the holiday and driving in town is virtually imposssible. Streets are blockaded and cars are parked and clogging streets for miles from the processions so geting in and out will be near impossible. Sounds like the in-town Sevilla option would work best for you. Also, we have heard that Sevilla is one of the most incredible locations for Holy Week. Good Luck,

Maria

Maribel

Annette,
I strongly concur with Maria's wise suggestion of watching the processions in the city where your accomodations are. The crowds/traffic can be overwhelming.

You might also enjoy reading the following before your visit:

www.cyberspain.com/life/ssanta.htm
(a general primer on this fascinating and very moving celebration)

www.altur.com/eng/psevillla/sevilla/indez.htm (for processions in Sevilla)

www.malagaturismo.com/ssanta/ing/bienve.html (for Malaga processions)

www.saraphina.com/moseysevilla/
(an interesting but lengthy travelogue of a British painter's journey through Andalucia)-click on "A Step into Semana Santa" to begin)

Happy travels!

michele

Holy Week in Seville is beautiful and moving. Yes, there are LOTS of tourists, but plenty of locals. This is a serious week with many somber processions. I stayed at the Casa de los Mercaderos and took a walking tour with a very knowledgeable guide for two nights (especially Holy Thursday-Good Friday). He managed to manoeuver our small group around so that we could see the statues closely. If that is available , I would do it, as it is easy to get lost inthe crowd. Also, whatever you decide, I would book it as soon as possible as this is an extremely busy time in the south of Spain.

BOB THE NAVIGATOR

Annette, The Easter processional in Nerja blew us away in 1999--it started at noon at the small church in the town square and went on for about an hour.
You should see my slides of that. I would consider one of the smaller towns in addition to Sevilla, and Nerja is hard to beat.

Annette

I haven't been at this site for about a week and I just wanted to thank the people who responded to my post. This recomfirms my inclination that I'll have to rethink my accomodations situation for Holy Week 2002. And thank-you for the websites, Maribel! As many of you know, the people here make this forum invaluable for planning a trip to Europe.

Gary

Annette, Four of us stayed at the Barratt Dona Lola last September. We were pleased with the accomodations, nearby restaurants, and located right on the highway(as well as the shore), it was a perfect place to call home. We ventured out daily to nearby Rhonda, Mijas, Tourmellinos (sp?) and other Pueblo Blancas. Sorry, no information about holy week. Just wanted to touch base with you on the Dona Lola.