Laurence Dollimore
MALAGA province will rake in €120 million this Semana Santa.
According to president of the Association of Brotherhoods of Malaga, Pablo Atencia, Malaga city alone will bring in €81 million.
He added that the city will see 1.4 million tourists, most of whom come from around the province.
“Easter tourism is mostly Spanish, but we are working to bring more foreign tourists”, which, he added, account for almost 7% of visitors who come just for Holy Week.
Statistics also predict almost 100% occupancy rate for hotels in the capital and around 85% in the rest of the province.
“It is the largest sociological movement in the city,” said Atencia.
Far from the chocolate-led commercialised events in the UK, Spain’s Semana Santa Holy Week is very much still steeped in centuries’ old traditions.
The event is hotly anticipated by both residents and visitors to the country every year.
The nazarenos cover their faces in mourning and shame for the sins committed throughout the year.
Their conical hats (capirotes), traditionally worn by clowns and criminals, are a physical manifestation of this shame.
At first glance, it’s an unnerving sight, but underneath the costumes are normal residents upholding the fiercely religious tradition.
Andalucia is where most choose to spend the week of festivities, with the most popular choices being Sevilla and Malaga.
