How Easter is celebrated in Palencia

Every year since the fifteenth century, Palencia puts on its glad rags to celebrate Easter. Religious fervour, faith, silence, austerity and sobriety are manifested in the streets of the city on days so special that it becomes the perfect setting to commemorate the passion and death of Jesus Christ. Here, we explain how the Holy Week of Easter is celebrated in Palencia, one of the most important festivals in the provincial capital, characterised by its unique tradition.

Palencia

Palencia is a city in the Autonomous Community of Castilla y León and capital of the province with the same name. It is located on the banks of the Carrión River, in the middle of the plain of Tierra de Campos.

A beautiful historical centre, large green areas, excellent cuisine and a great history make Palencia a city that does not disappoint. Along the main street, the Calle Mayor, there are the most outstanding monuments of Palencia. The Plaza Mayor, dating from the 17th century; the Cathedral; the Church of San Miguel and the Puente Mayor are some of the tourist attractions hidden in the city. Among its parks, it is worth mentioning the Salón de Isabel II, more than 30 thousand square meters, over three hundred thousand square feet, in size.

Palencia is one of the least visited cities in Spain, although it hides a huge amount of history and tradition that make it an emblem of Castile and Leon.

Easter in Palencia

Tradition, culture and art define the passion for Easter in Palencia. This celebration has been gaining importance and interest over time thanks to its cultural and artistic appeal, as well as the roots of the processions and parades that can be seen through the streets of the capital of Palencia.

Some of the highlights of Easter in Palencia are the elegance, sobriety, simplicity and solemnity with which it is celebrated, as well as the silence that pervades the streets of the city. All this has turned it into a festival of international tourist interest, although sometimes it is eclipsed by neighbouring cities.

In Castile and Leon, Easter is characterised by remembrance, sobriety and austerity, traits that are even more accentuated in Palencia. Its 14 processions, many of them centuries old, maintain a unique tradition when parading solemnly and in orderly manner through the streets of the city. As a symbol of brotherhood, all the brotherhoods parade in all the processions, something that makes Easter in Palencia a totally unique event in Spain.