Holy Week in Córdoba during your Erasmus: curious facts and itineraries

Hello Erasmus! As you probably know, Spain is a traditionally Catholic country and that’s the reason why Holy Week is one of the most important holidays in Spain and, of course, in Córdoba. It is always held the last week of Lent, so depending on the year it can be in March or April. During this week, beginning on Palm Sunday and ending on Resurrection Sunday, our streets are filled with processions. These holy carvings add even more beauty to Córdoba, as they are carried through narrow streets full of life.

What exactly is a procession?

They are religious parades consisting on carvings made in the image and likeness of the Virgin, Jesus or other saints that represent biblical scenes and are accompanied by music bands. The sculptures are carried by the “costaleros” with the weight on their necks. They train for months to be phisically ready for the Holy Week, as a way to show their devotion.  

The Nazarenes (named after the city of Nazaret) also go with the processions, wearing conical hats called “capirotes“. The origin of these hats goes back to the Inquisition, in the Middle Ages, when the Catholic Church made convicted people wear them. Nowadays, they are worn as a sign of penance and their form refers to the penitents’ closeness to heaven.

Gastronomy

Something that is very typical of the Holy Week in Córdoba, and in the entire Andalucía, are the characteristic desserts of this time of the year, which are called torrijas. Torrijas are made of bread soaked in milk, then in beaten eggs and then fried. They are usually coated with sugar or honey and cinnamon and they can even be filled with cream. Pestiños and roscos are also typical. You can try all of them at Roldán, for example. You can’t end your Erasmus in Córdoba without tasting them!

If you want to make the most of your Erasmus in Córdoba, you can check the processions’ itinerary during the Holy Week in Córdoba to find out what the routes and the schedules will be. We also suggest you to download the app Semana Santa Córdoba to keep track of the possible changes and the expected arrival time of processions. You’re now ready to enjoy the Holy Week as Erasmus in Córdoba! 🙂

Do you want to get more info on the traditions of Córdoba? Please, read our post about May!