Easter in Murcia and the procession of Los Salzillos

One of the most-recognised festivals in Spain is the Holy Week of Easter in Murcia. It has some of the most notorious processions in the whole country due to its spectacular originality and unique style. The essence of the traditional huertana-style dress; the impressive sculptures of the artist Francisco Salzillo and their procession; and the large number of nazarenos that make up more than 16 Murcian brotherhoods who take part in the processions are the main elements that have turned Easter in Murcia and the procession of Los Salzillos into an event of international tourist interest.

The city of Murcia

Murcia is a Spanish city and capital of the autonomous community of the Region of Murcia. Located on the banks of the Segura River and only 40km, 25 miles, from the Mediterranean Sea, Murcia is the 7th most populated city in Spain.

Some of the notable points of the city are its huerta, vegetable plots which are a cultural, gastronomic and tourist symbol, as well as its monuments and places of interest. These include the cathedral, the historical centre, its bridges and its architecture, both religious and civil.

Easter in Murcia

Since 2011, the Holy Week of Easter in Murcia is one of the festivals of international tourist interest in Spain. It is one of the most important celebrations of our country, both for the excellent sculptural heritage that it exhibits during its processions and for its own traditional style.

Easter is an exciting festival anywhere, but in Murcia it’s special, different from both the Andalusian influence and the Castilian style, offering locals and visitors a different and exciting celebration. Salzillo’s statues, the huertana presence and nazarenos who give out sweets and other presents all contribute to the unique personality of the festival.

One of the highlights of Easter in Murcia is the procession of Los Salzillos, which takes place on Good Friday. More than 4,000 nazarenos, dressed in their purple tunics, carry the works of the Murcian sculptor Francisco Salzillo Alcaraz, dating from the 18th century. It is the most striking procession for its spectacular intensity. You can watch it go through the narrow streets of the old town, a fact that fills this emotional procession with merit and preciousness.

In addition to the Los Salzillos procession, Easter in Murcia also includes other events that make it special, such as the procession of Silence, the one with the greatest fervour and emotion, which makes the processional journey with the street lights off and in the middle of a breathtaking silence, or the procession of Los Coloraos, the most picturesque and popular in the whole city.