Easter is one of the most interesting times of year to come to Málaga – to Andalusia at large – for it is a deeply felt religious festival. Celebrations go well beyond religious rites to become an artistic expression. Beautiful sculptures carried along in floats. Incense filling the historic district in every town or village.
The singing of saetas, which poet Antonio Machado described as ‘songs like arrows hitting the hearts of the faithful.’
Málaga City
Easter highlights in the capital of the Costa del Sol include the procession of El Cautivo on Good Monday. Affectionately referred to as ‘the Lord of Málaga’, Jesus is revered as He gets along in the historic district, wearing his white robe.
Maundy Thursday is the day when the most traditional processions take place. The Brotherhood of Mena bring out the Lord of the Good Death, escorted by the Spanish Legion. It is a big week for the city, indeed. There are as many as 45 official processions, including those by the brotherhoods of El Rico, Students, La Paloma and La Esperanza.
Easter in Málaga Province
If you are coming to the Costa del Sol in Easter, you will want to visit some of the hinterland villages, where the religious ceremonies can be a good excuse to enjoy their sights, their food and their beauty.
Carratraca stages one procession only, but there is another event that catches everyone’s eye: the Passion. Locals gather at the local bullring to re-enact the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus. But if there is a town in Málaga that genuinely comes to life for the Holy Week, that is Arriate. The streets get all dressed up for the occasion. Almost every resident is a member of a religious brotherhood!
In Antequera, a city with a rich religious heritage, the most popular Easter tradition is known as ‘correr la vega’: brotherhood members have to carry their floats uphill at full speed. Ronda boasts some of the oldest and loveliest Easter traditions set against the background of the majestic Gorge.
There are lots of ways of having a special Easter experience in Málaga Province and the Costa del Sol – a wonderful mix of religious feeling, deeply-rooted tradition, art and culture.
Málaga’s Holy Week is really special, different from celebrations in other provinces in Andalusia or Spain. In the processions, floats (tronos, called ‘pasos’ in other Spanish regions) are carried by ‘butlers’ on their shoulders to the sound of music. The whole scene is powerful and beautiful.
