Holy Week in Spain is one of the most outstanding festivities, where faith, history and tradition are intertwined in a spectacle of processions, centuries-old carvings and sacred music. In the provinces where our farms are located, this celebration takes on unique nuances.
Here we present the most notorious Holy Weeks in each of our regions, recognized for their cultural value and their impact on local identity.
Finca Montepedroso
As a prelude to the Passion Week, on Saturday, April 5 at 7 p.m., the I Certamen de Bandas de Semana Santa will be held in Rueda. The first edition of this event will be attended by 5 bands from Valladolid, Medina del Campo and Nava del Rey.
Under the name ‘Fides, Spes et Caritas’, an event full of tradition and emotion is scheduled to take place, which will begin with a parade that will start at the Ermita del Cristo de las Batallas and end at the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción.
Once inside the temple, the participating bands will offer a concert to all attendees who will be able to enjoy the most solemn and representative marches of the Holy Week.
Easter Week in Medina del Campo
Just a few kilometers from Rueda, the Holy Week of Medina del Campo is considered the oldest in Spain, with documented processions since the 15th century. Also declared of International Tourist Interest, it is famous for its sobriety and the impressive nighttime illumination of its brotherhoods and floats.
Most outstanding processions:
- Procession of the Vera Cruz (Holy Thursday): it is one of the oldest in the country, with brotherhoods carrying lanterns and the carvings on their shoulders.
- Procession of Silence (Good Friday): it takes place in absolute silence, only accompanied by the sound of drums and bugles.
- Procession of the Liberation (Good Friday): at dawn, accompanied by torches and rocked by the bearers, Christ is shown in his greatest helplessness in the arms of death, before his glorious resurrection.
In addition to living Easter, Medina del Campo is an ideal place to discover its medieval past, visit the Castillo de la Mota and learn about its wine tradition in the cradle of Verdejo.
Valladolid Holy Week
Declared of International Tourist Interest, Valladolid’s Holy Week is one of the most impressive in the national panorama. It stands out for the artistic quality of its processional floats, many of them masterpieces of the Spanish Baroque, sculpted by renowned artists such as Gregorio Fernández.
Most outstanding processions:
- Procession of the Holy Supper (Holy Thursday): a solemn parade that opens the great celebrations with a monumental procession representing the Last Supper with life-size figures.
- General Procession of the Sacred Passion of the Redeemer (Good Friday): considered the most spectacular, it gathers 33 floats of different brotherhoods in a route that turns Valladolid into a true open-air museum.
- Sermon of the Seven Words (Good Friday, noon): it is celebrated in the Plaza Mayor and is one of the most emblematic moments of the Holy Week in Valladolid.
In addition to the processions, this is an excellent opportunity to discover the historical richness of Valladolid, its old town and its gastronomic offer.
Finca Antigua
Easter Week in Cuenca
Declared of International Tourist Interest, it is one of the most unique in Spain. Its most characteristic event is the procession Camino del Calvario, popularly known as Las Turbas.
Most outstanding processions
- Las Turbas (Good Friday): at dawn, the drums and bugles resound in a deafening roar that symbolizes the mockery of Christ on his way to Calvary. At dawn, the atmosphere becomes solemn and silence invades the streets, creating an impressive contrast.
- Procession of the Holy Burial (Good Friday): it is the most sober and overwhelming, with images that walk through the streets of the old town of Cuenca, wrapped in an atmosphere of meditation.
Beyond the processions, Cuenca offers a unique setting for Holy Week, with its historic city declared a World Heritage Site, its famous Casas Colgadas (Hanging Houses) and its setting of a sea of vineyards.
Finca Valpiedra
Easter Week in Logroño
Easter Week in La Rioja is less massive than in other regions, but maintains a great authenticity and popular roots. In Logroño, the capital of La Rioja, it has been declared of National Tourist Interest and the processions stand out for their sobriety and the fervor with which they are experienced in the streets.
Most outstanding processions:
- Procession of the Seven Words (Holy Thursday): with only one brotherhood, this procession stands out for requesting, since 1997, the pardon of a prisoner. Although it has not always happened, thanks to this, more than fifteen prisoners have already been pardoned.
- Procession of the Holy Burial (Good Friday): the most important of Logroño, with a route through the old town in which centenary images stand out.
Easter Week in San Vicente de la Sonsierra
Very close to Finca Valpiedra, you can enjoy this Holy Week declared of National Tourist Interest and Intangible Cultural Interest.
“Los Picaos” is a penance of the Christian religion, currently professed only in this town. It consists of self-flagellation as an act of faith and voluntarily by the disciplinants. Volunteers who wish to undergo this penance and participate anonymously must meet the following requirements: be of legal age, male, and have a priest certify their status as Christians and their good faith.
In addition to the processions, Easter Week in La Rioja is a perfect time to visit the region’s historic monasteries, such as San Millán de la Cogolla, the birthplace of the Spanish language, or Santa María la Real de Nájera, with its impressive royal pantheon. Without forgetting its greatest natural heritage, the vineyards.
Tradition, culture and history during Holy Week
Semana Santa in Valladolid, Medina del Campo, Cuenca, and Logroño offer a unique vision of this festivity, combining devotion, history and an exceptional cultural environment. From the impressive carvings in Valladolid to the thrilling sound of Las Turbas in Cuenca, each destination has its own essence.
Whether for their artistic value, their history or the emotion they convey, these celebrations are an unforgettable experience worth living first-hand.
And we can’t think of anything better than pairing it with our wine culture, our estates and our wines. This Easter we are waiting for you at Montepedroso Farm, Antigua Farm y Valpiedra Farm
