Visiting Seville during Holy Week is one of the richest cultural experiences you can enjoy in Andalucia. It’s an event that reveals the “heart and soul” of southern Spain, but as a visitor how do you get the most out of it?
Thanks to our insider contacts you can enjoy Semana Santa in style, accompanied by local experts, and witnessing event from intimate and priviledged surroundings in the heart of Seville – no matter how many thousands of people are gathered in the streets.
Toma will show you the best of Holy Week in Seville as we escape the crowds to enjoy the occasion from above, from the vantage point of a private balcony overlooking all the action.
We run our annual overnight trip to Seville from the Costa del Sol every Easter, so you can witness first-hand the passion of the Holy Week parades and take home some unforgettable memories. Sign up now for the 2016 tour as spaces are strictly limited.
Experience Holy Week in Seville with Toma Tours
About the Tour
Wednesday 23rd March 08.30 – We will depart the Costa del Sol (San Pedro-Marbella area) ready to arrive in Seville shortly after midday so we can check in to our accommodation and leave our bags.
Upon arrival, we will check into our fabulous hotel and then enjoy a walking tour with a local guide to introduce the city. Later you have the afternoon free to have lunch, explore, or have a snooze (We may not be back to bed until around 3am)
18.00 –ish – We will make our way to the private apartment that will be our base for the evening. The owner, our host, is an American-Sevillano Toma friend, a real devotee to Semana Santa, who will share some fascinating insights with us as we look forward to the main event.
The apartment is in a privileged spot with one of the best balconies in the centre of Seville, giving an impressive birds-eye view of the processions as they pass below. Our Balcony has an excellent view of the departure (Salida) and return (Entrada) of the procession of the Brotherhood of Cristo de Burgos – you can see in the photo just how close we are to the church entrance.
The Balcony, the best views in Seville
If you have never been to Seville during the Easter processions then you are in for a treat! You will be astounded by the devotion of hundreds of thousands of people who line the streets to pay tribute to their brotherhoods carrying images of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Maria.
Visitors normally only see the processions from within the crowded streets, but watching from up above allows you to appreciate the mind-blowing logistics and organisation of this event. The entire city spills out onto the streets, and yet the enormous “Pasos” are still able to navigate through the crowds, carried by their devoted Penitents.
We also have catering laid on during the event, so you can enjoy local tapas and “jamon”, with beer and wine, just as the locals will be doing in the bars below. And of course you are free to go and mingle in the streets before the procession comes back a few hours later. There are many other processions taking place at the same time, so you have a chance to see several throughout the evening.
01.30 am – Now the procession will be winding its way back through the crowds to be carefully manouveured once more inside the Church.
The atmosphere this time is quite different; the crowd is silent, (no mean feat when there are thousands there), perhaps a little sombre, but most certainly respectful. Now we will hear the haunting flamenco sounds of the “Saeta”, being sung by one, or maybe more Saeteros as they feel the duende rise up among the crowd. If we are lucky, the singer will come to our balcony – prepare for goosebumps!
Holy Thursday, 23rd March – This morning you are free to explore Seville, and maybe go inside some of the churches to see the Pasos that are proudly on display. There are no processions early in the day, so you can walk freely up to the Cathedral if you wish, and see a little more of city.
At midday, we will leave from the hotel and make our way back to Marbella.
Accommodation and Transport
We do have limited spaces for this tour so please book early to avoid disappointment. Email [email protected] to reserve your place.
Overnight accommodation will be in Hotel Casas del Rey Baeza. Transport to and from the Costa del Sol offers spaces for up to 28.
This Holy Week in Seville tour departs on 23rd March and is priced according to the accommodation chosen. Tour includes:
- Return transport from Marbella
- The services of our Cultural Expert, Manni Coe, and our apartment host
- Use of the private balcony with the view of the procession
- Freshly cut Jamon and tapas with beer and wine
- Overnight accommodation in a boutique 4 Star hotel
- A walking tour with local guide, and free time to explore under your own steam
PRICE PER PERSON 356 Euros, based on double occupancy.
Staying Locally?
We also have limited spaces for guest who wish to join us on the balcony but who will be making their own transport and accommodation arrangements, priced at 149 Euros per person.
Book quickly, this is an experience not to be missed! [email protected]
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