Holy Week is a very special time in Madrid. The city welcomes thousands of tourists during these days who come to the capital of Spain to discover interesting attractions such as processions and Madrid Tapas Tours based on traditional food and concerts,and many of them are religious. In this article you will find all the information you need to know before planning your trip during this time.
Almudena Cathedral and the processions of Madrid
Holy Week in Madrid: Almudena Cathedral
Almudena Cathedral has an important role during the Holy Week. In this temple, the main masses take place. During these masses, tourists cannot visit the building, but it is a good chance to mix tourism and devotion if you are Catholic. You will be able to visit the numerous processions that tour the city during these days, from Wednesday to Sunday. For instance, either the Nuestro Padre Jesús del Gran Poder on Thursday or Jesús Nazareno de Medinaceli on Friday.
However, if you walk around the streets of Madrid during Holy Week, you will see the wooden statues and artistic pieces displayed that are normally kept inside the churches and convents the rest of the year. Clearly, a different way to enjoy the city.
Sacred music in the Holy Week of Madrid
The sacred music is also one of the Madrid attractions during the Holy Week. This kind of music, which is ancient and finds its way to the human soul, can be listened to in many different churches. For example, you can listen in Medinaceli Church, close to the Congress of Deputies, or Nuestra Señora de Atocha Church, close to Atocha Station. Most of the concerts are free and take part in the series Voces para la Liturgia, Requiem and Música para la Pasión.
Sometimes we are lucky to attend an organ concert in Almudena Cathedral. This is the biggest and most amazing organ you will find in Madrid. It was built by the famous Gerhard Grenzing and it combines mechanic and electronic devices.
Madrid tapas tour during Holy Week
Holy Week in Madrid: Torrijas
A Madrid tapas tour is always a good plan in the capital of Spain, but if you visit it during Holy Week, you can add to your menú delicacies that you can’t find the rest of the year. For your sweet tooth, you shouldn’t leave Madrid without trying the torrijas, which is a very simple cake made of wet bread, milk, anise and cinnamon. A very humble biscuit that the grandmother usually cooks for the whole family and the most traditional restaurants cook for tourists.
If you prefer a salty taste, you must taste potaje de garbanzos (a chickpeas stew) and croquetas de bacalao (cod balls), given the chance. The restaurants located in the heart of Austrias Madrid often cook them during Holy Week. Head yourself over to Cava Baja Street or Cuchilleros Street and you probably will find these suggestions.
Holy Week in Madrid: Processions
