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Semana Santa (Holy Week or Easter) is probably the most important week in the religious calendar within the Region of Murcia and is full of processions, flowers and music, commemorating the suffering and death of Jesus and his subsequent resurrection.
Unlike celebrations in the UK which tend to focus principally on Easter Sunday, chocolate and bunnies, Semana Santa in the Region of Murcia is a week of colourful processions, rows of penitents accompanying the “pasos” representing the last days in the life of Jesus throughout the streets of each town, enormous “tronos” bearing sculptural representations adorned with flowers, their bearers swaying to the beat of drums as the parades pass through the crowds.
Semana Santa in Alhama is a relatively intimate event with over 50 impressive “pasos” (the figures and tableaux paraded through the streets) belonging to 5 Cofradías (brotherhoods), and the streets are the perfect width to create an intimate and spiritual atmosphere, comfortably accommodating the passing tronos without crushing the onlookers.
Alhama possesses some truly beautiful sculptures, and such care is taken over displaying them that the pasos are amongst the best-dressed in the whole region. The floral decorations are spectacular and throughout the week the atmosphere is warm and welcoming.
The flowers in Alhama are especially prominent on Easter Sunday, the Day of the Resurrection, when the Cofradías join together in a triumphant explosion of colour, joy and scent, thrusting the flower-laden pasos skywards in a gesture of celebration at the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Although the atmosphere of each day is slightly different, should you wish to choose just three events, a good selection would be those on Tuesday night, Thursday night and Sunday morning. Another large procession is held in the evening of Good Friday.
The processions all leave from the church of San Lázaro, which is by the archaeological museum, and the Parroquia (parish church) de la Concepción, just behind Plaza de las Américas.
All the processions are in the centre of the old town and are easy to find. The town centre is closed off as processions begin, so visitors from outside usually park on the outskirts and walk in. Maps can be obtained from the Tourist office of Alhama de Murcia.
The program for the Semana Santa events in Alhama de Murcia in 2023 is as follows:
(NB Images do not necessarily correspond to specific day.)
Thursday March 30
23.45: Serenata a Nuestra Señora de los Dolores. Just before midnight the figures of Jesus and Mary meet at the entrance of the church prior to Viernes de Dolores (Friday of Sorrows).
Friday March 31 (Viernes de Dolores, Friday of Sorrows)
18.00: Procession of the Ladies and Gentlemen of the Legions to the Hermandad de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores y la Soledad,
22.00: Procession of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores. Route: : Iglesia de San Lázaro Obispo, La Feria, Vergara Pérez, Plaza Vieja, Larga, Jardín de Los Mártires, Corredera, La Feria, Gil, Virgen del Rosario, Iglesia de San Lázaro Obispo.
Participants: Hermandad de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores y de la Soledad and the Drums & Trumpets Band of the Legionnaires of the Base Álvarez de Sotomayor of Viator (Almería).
This procession features the figure of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores (1949), which resides in the chapel of the church of San Lázaro all year round.
Sunday April 2, Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday)
11.30: The Blessing of the Palms from the Church of La Concepción to the Parroquia de San Lázaro Obispo, followed by a Palm Sunday procession.
Route: Iglesia de la Concepción, Acequia Espuña, Rambla Don Diego, Corredera, La Feria, Parroquia de San Lázaro Obispo. Followed by Palm Sunday Mass at 12.00.
18.30: Palm Sunday procession of La Verónica. Jesus enters Jerusalem triumphantly on a donkey, greeted ecstatically by the crowds. This is a lovely family occasion, with participants carrying palm decorations.
Route: La Feria, Corredera, Rambla Don Diego, Constitución, Juan Carlos I, Murcia, Sánchez Vivancos, Virgen de los Dolores, church of La Virgen de los Dolores.
Participants: Hermandad de La Santa Mujer Verónica.
Tuesday April 4, Martes Santo (Easter Tuesday)
21.30: The first of the major Semana Santa processions in Alhama de Murcia, in which all aspects of the first part of the Passion are shown, from the betrayal of Judas to the denial of Peter and the crucifixion of Christ. All five of the Cofradías of Alhama take part in the event, which begins at the Parroquia de San Lázaro Obispo.
Route: Iglesia de San Lázaro Obispo, Virgen del Rosario, La Feria, Corredera, Larga, Plaza Vieja, Hermana Angelines, Moreras, Rambla Don Diego, Postigos, Miguel Servet, La Feria, Iglesia de San Lázaro Obispo.
Wednesday April 5, Miércoles Santo (Holy Wednesday)
22.00: Procession of the Cofradía de Santa María Magdalena. The love of Mary Magdalene shines out in white and light, the purest of loves. There are three pasos.
Route: Parroquia de San Lázaro Obispo, La Feria, Corredera, Rambla Don Diego, San Francisco Javier, Plaza del Mazareno, Constantino López, Pio X, Justo Gil Cotanda.
Thursday April 6, Jueves Santo (Maundy Thursday)
18.00: Holy Mass in the Parroquia de San Lázaro Obispo
19.00: Holy Mass in the Parroquia de la Concepción.
19.30: Procession of the Last Supper, with eight “pasos”, starting at the Parroquia de San Lázaro Obispo. Route: Iglesia de San Lázaro Obispo, La Feria, Juan Carlos I, Tomás Moro, Postigos, Rambla Don Diego, San Francisco Javier, Plaza del Nazareno, Avda. Sierra Espuña, Colón, Fuente Blanca.
Participants: Archicofradía de Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno.
22.15: Procession in silence. A solemn and reverential procession featuring four “pasos” to mark the last night of Jesus’ life. Having seen the disciples dining together at the Last Supper in the 7.30 procession, at 10.15 the mood changes to shame and silence following his arrest. The lights are turned off in the town and the procession files past in silence, the atmosphere tinged with shame and betrayal.
Route: Iglesia de la Concepción, Rambla Don Diego, Corredera, La Feria, Juan Carlos I, Tomás Moro, Postigos, Ram bla Don Diego, Iglesia de la Concepción.
Participants: Cofradía de San Juan Evangelista.
Friday April 7, Viernes Santo (Good Friday)
This is a big day for processions, with all the Cofradias participating in both morning and evening events. Today is the day to contemplate the crucifixion of Christ and the sacrifice he made so that we might live.
10.00: Procesión del Encuentro. Each Cofradía sets out from its own starting point, heading towards the Plaza de la Concepcion, where they meet at 11.00.
Route of the Hermandad de la Santa Mujer Verónica: La Feria, Empedrá, Plaza Vieja, Hermana Angelines, Moreras, Santerén, Valeros, Rambla D. Diego, Plaza de la Concepción.
Route of the Cofradía de Santa María Magdalena and the Archicofradía de Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno: La Feria, Empedrá, Plaza Vieja, Hermana Angelines, Moreras, Plaza de La Concepción.
Route of the Cofradía de San Juan Evangelista and the Hermandad de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores y de la Soledad: La Feria, Federico Servet, Postigos, Rambla de D. Diego, Plaza de La Concepción.
11.00: All of the groups meet in the “Encuentro” in Plaza de La Concepción. They then return along the following route: Rambla Don Diego, Constitución, Juan Carlos I, Virgen del Rosario, Parroquia de San Lázaro Obispo.
21:00: the Procesión del Santo Entierro (the Holy Sepulchre). This event commemorates the burial of Christ and is the largest procession of the week in Alhama de Murcia, with nine “pasos”.
Route: Church of San Lázaro Obispo, La Feria, Juan Carlos I, Tomás Moro, Postigos, Rambla Don Diego, San Francisco Javier, Sierra Espuña, Florencio Javaloy, Acequia Espuña, Rambla Don Diego, Corredera, church of San Lázaro Obispo.
Following the procession, the figure of Christ is taken from the Church to Calvary, with members of the public welcome to join the processional entourage.
Route: Iglesia de San Lázaro Obispo, Virgen del Rosario, Juan Carlos I, Los Pasos, Calvario.
Main participants: Archicofradía de Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno.
Saturday April 8, Sábado Santo (Easter Saturday)
19.00: The figure of Christ is carried on the shoulders of the “Armaos” (Roman soldiers) from the Iglesia de San Lázaro to the Parroquia de la Concepción.
19.45: Procession of the 7 words and the Holy Sepulchre (the denial of Peter and the tomb of Christ), a day of mourning when the mood is sombre.
Route: Parroquia de la Concepción, Rambla D. Diego, Corredera, La Feria, Juan Carlos I, Tomás Moro, Postigos, Rambla D. Diego, San Francisco Javier, Plaza del Nazareno, Constantino López, Colón, Fuente Blanca.
Participants: Archicofradía de Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno.
23.00: Easter Vigil in the Parroquia de San Lázaro and the Parroquia de La Concepción.
Sunday April 9, Domingo de Resurrección (Easter Sunday)
The Easter Sunday procession in Alhama features another Encuentro of different pasos carried by different groups. This is a joyous moment as flowers, satins and colours mingle in a riot of colour and scent, joining together in celebration of the Resurrection.
As the pasos meet in the centre of the street the tomb of Jesus opens and a white dove flies out into the sky: Jesus is resurrected.
Following the meeting, the pasos file back to San Lázaro together accompanied by joyful music, the bearers dance to the beat, and onlookers throw flowers and petals into their path. It’s a particularly special morning for which Alhama is justifiably famous, and the flowers are magnificent!
10.00: The Cofradias take 3 different routes, leaving from the church of San Lázaro, before meeting in the Jardín de los Patos at 11.00.
Route of the Cofradía de San Juan Evangelista and the Hermandad de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores y de la Soledad: Virgen del Rosario, Sánchez Vivancos, Murcia, Juan Carlos I, Jardín de Los Patos.
Route of the Hermandad de la Santa Mujer Verónica and the Cofradía de Santa María Magdalena: La Feria, Federico Servet, Tomás Moro, Juan Carlos I, Jardín de Los Patos.
Route of the Archicofradía de Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno: La Feria, Jardín de Los Patos.
11.00: The Encuentro in the Jardin de los Patos, before the return to San Lázaro along the following route: La Feria, Corredera, Rambla Don Diego, San Francisco Javier, Plaza del Nazareno, Constantino López, Constitución, Juan Carlos I, La Feria, Parroquia de San Lázaro Obispo.
(Images: Ayuntamiento de Alhama de Murcia)
For more local events, news and visiting information go to the home page of Alhama Today.
Alhama de Murcia Tourist information office is located on the edge of the Plaza de la Constitución, just a few metres away from the underground car park and the Town hall of Alhama de Murcia.
The tourist office offers free guided audiotours in English which take visitors around the historical sites of interest in Alhama. These be loaned at any time, although allow an hour and a half to complete the tour, and when loaning the audio equipment visitors are asked to leave passports or ID cards with the tourist office.
The office also carries a full range of leaflets for the archaeological museum of Los Baños, which is built around the historic spa which gives Alhama its name, and the mountains of Sierra Espuña, which is also an important area within the municipality of Alhama. Areas such as El Berro and Gebas have a number of interesting routes which can be followed and there are several picnic areas and good walking routes within the Sierra Espuña natural park.
The tourist office also carries leaflets for the many cultural events and fiestas which take place in Alhama throughout the year, including Los Mayos, Semana Santa, Christmas,the Romería of La Candelaria and the Auto de los Reyes Magos in El Berro.
For more local information, including news and forthcoming events, visit the home page of Alhama Today.
