Holy Week in the Region of Valencia: Tradition and Lots of Fiesta

Holy Week in the Region of Valencia is a public holiday that sees age-old traditions come alive on the streets, moving religious ceremonies and typical food for the occasion. Come and see the magical spectacles and processions and spend Easter soaking up Valencia’s stunning natural scenery. Don’t know where to start? We can help!

Where to go in the Region of Valencia during Holy Week

There are plenty of spectacular events happening in Castellón for you to check out during Holy Week, such as those in Vinaròs, in which the procession at dawn on Holy Wednesday, known as the Matinada procession, is a real highlight. A wall of noise reverberates in Vila-Real as locals gather in the centre to drum up excitement by banging drums, and L’Alcora is the place to be on Holy Friday, as it’s the day of La Rompida, a cacophony of drumming that will vibrate the streets in celebration.

During your week of Easter celebrations in the Region of Valencia, Sagunto is another place to visit so you can marvel at its festive traditions that date back to the 15th century and include large-scale concerts of sacred music. Moncada transforms into a giant stage, welcoming various reenactments of biblical scenes, and in the seaside neighbourhood of Cabanyal in València city, locals get ready to throw plates, water and firecrackers from their balconies as a sign of elation for the Resurrection.

Let’s make our way to the province of Alicante to see what’s on during Holy Week. Our first stop is Orihuela, where we witness local traditions such as El Caballero Cubierto, the “Diablesa” cross sculpture and a moving performance of Canto de la Pasión. Alicante is brimming with Easter activities, such as the procession in Crevillent defined by its incredible floats created by sculptor Mariano Benlliure, or Palm Sunday in Elche, which decks the town’s streets with sunny, yellow palm leaves lovingly woven into beautiful bouquets.

And last but not least, you can’t visit the Region of Valencia during Holy Week without sampling the typical Easter delicacies. These include the brioche-style bread panquemaos, -popular in Alberic - the curious sweet cake mona,  figues albardaes (battered figs), the Spanish version of French toast known as torrijas, arnadí (a pumpkin dessert) and chocolate eggs, of course. But it’s not all sweet. Tuck into cod and potato fritters or stewed broad beans during your visit, or try a ximos - a deep-fried bread roll filled with a tuna, red pepper and tomato sauce called titaina. The list of what to eat during Easter is as endless as it is tasty! Plan a day out to one of Valencia’s many indoor markets and dive into the local cuisine for the most authentic foodie experience.