KellyFowler's Photos » Seville, Spain

If you ever get a chance to be in Sevilla during (or just after) the Semana Santa, which is the Holy Week.

I happened to be just outside the Giralda when a procession of devout Catholic Spaniards made its way through the narrow streets toward the cathedral.

The drums and horns of the band leading the procession could be heard from several blocks away. I first noticed the sound, followed by the crowd of followers, as I sat in the shade nearby the phenomenal tower.

There were at least 400 people in the procession, all wearing ceremonial robes and other religious outfits. There were young men, old men, women, and children all dressed in traditional clothing.

At the center of which was an ornate platform holding a statue of the Virgin Mary, silver crosses, and other items. It swayed and jingled as it moved slowly through the street. Underneath were at least 20 men carrying this with long poles – you could see their feet shuffling along.

When the procession reached the gateway to the main cathedral, the bells of the Giralda tower exploded in a cacophony of high and low pitched sounds. You could see the bells spinning 360 degrees, with their clappers hitting multiple times per revolution.

The bells tolled for at least 15 minutes while the crowd stayed transfixed by the pomp and the circumstance of the procession entering the cathedral.

After the gates closed and the Virgin Mary was inside along with the other members of the procession, I stayed and sat on the fountain just across from the cathedral.

I waited until the very last note of the very last bell faded away. Then I, too, faded into the narrow little streets of the old quarter in Sevilla.

I lived in Sevilla for five months and had the good fortune of living there during Semana Santa.  I chose to watch the departure of La Virgen de la Basillica de la Macarena.  It was amazing to see the hour long procession of nazarenos and penitents and bands before the beautiful virgin finally walked out.  people were crying and screaming “Guapa!” at the beautiful paso.  You describe it well, and it truly is a sight that I’ll never forget.  Which brotherhood/church did you see? 

I like your description in your reply, thanks for the detail. I didn’t know what I was seeing, just that it was this immense tradition happening right in front of me. The sounds and the sights of that hour-long procession stay with me even now.