Easter Processions

Over Easter, the stunning carved images that during the rest of the year are stored in basilicas and churches are adorned with candles, flowers and rich embroidered cloaks to be paraded around emblematic locations in the Spanish capital, such as Paseo del Prado, Calle Alcalá and the Plaza Mayor. On their journey, they are accompanied by dozens of often hooded penitents known as nazarenos and carried by members of religious guilds and brotherhoods. 

The processional acts begin on the Friday before Holy Week, known as the Friday of Sorrows with the processions of El Cristo del Pozo y Nuestra Señora de los Dolores and El Santísimo Cristo del Perdón y María Santísima de la Misericordia.

Two days later, on Palm Sunday, you can enjoy popular processions including Nuestro Padre Jesús del Amor (La Borriquita), Procesión del Silencio, El Santísimo Cristo de la Fe y la Salud and Los Estudiantes; the Monday, in turn, brings El Cristo del Camino (Delicias) and on Wednesday you can see the processions of El Santísimo Cristo de las Tres Caídas and María Santísima de las Antiguas (Los Gitanos).

The processions that take place over the three-day period known as the Paschal Triduum are the most recognised and admired, since they commemorate the death of Christ. The most popular processions during this period are Nuestro Padre Jesús del Gran Poder y María Santísima de la Esperanza Macarena; Jesús Nazareno y la Virgen de la Soledad, Divino Cautivo, with the famous figure carved by Mariano Benlliure, which is also paraded on Good Friday, and El Pobre, all on Maundy Thursday, as well as the processions of Jesús Nazareno de Medinaceli, María Santísima de los Siete Dolores and El Santo Entierro, Los Alabarderos and Cristo de la Misericordia y Santísima Virgen de la Soledad. Villaverde Alto on Good Friday and, finally, the Procession of Soledad y Desamparo on Easter Saturday.

Another important procession is La Hermandad del Silencio held on the evening of Good Friday

• Download the official 2025 Easter Programme for Madrid (PDF) containing a map of the processional routes.