The 5 processions you should not miss during the Semana Santa Marinera of Valencia 2024

The Poblados Marítimos are filled with the most solemn celebration, although with very particular touches.

Valencia is getting ready to live a festival that is considered of National Tourist Interest. The celebration of Holy Week takes place all over Spain, but it is in the Poblados Marítimos del Cap i casal where the festivities have a unique aroma and touch: Mediterranean and seafaring. The festival fights against all the elements to make a place for itself among the most popular Easter celebrations. Far away are the processions of Seville, Malaga and the rest of Andalusia; the sobriety of the Holy Week in Castile and Leon or the particularities that can be found in any procession of these days. The Marine Holy Week begins, of official form, this March 22 and concludes with its celebrations in the street next April 4. This is a party certainly unknown for good part of the Valencian population, becoming a jewel to discover in anyone of its singular moments. 

The Semana Santa Marinera is part of that group of celebrations that fill the neighborhoods of Valencia with celebration and devotion throughout the year. Obviously it is not comparable in magnitude with the Fallas, but they are a good example of this celebration that, while wanting to become big and well known, has not ceased to have that unique aroma that characterizes it. There will not be a brotherhood, confraternity or corporation that processions through the Poblados Marítimos with a large number of members, but the total of all the Christian groups make the neighborhoods of the seafront vibrate for 20 days.

How many days does the Semana Santa Marinera last?

The Semana Santa Marinera 2024 begins, officially, this Friday, March 22nd, Friday of Sorrows. It will be at this time when processions, transfers and other religious events begin to be held in the streets of Cabanyal, Grau and Canyamelar. In most of Spain the processions conclude on Easter Sunday, but in the streets of Valencia the Holy Week processions are extended until Easter Thursday, April 4, as the titular images walk the streets for the last time to live their transfers from the homes of the brothers to the corresponding parish.

How many brotherhoods are there in the Semana Santa Marinera?

In the Holy Week of Seville there are a total of 70 brotherhoods that carry out the well-known Penitence Station to the Cathedral; in Malaga the figure is 43, while in Avila there are 'only' 14 associations that are part of the brotherhood festivities. Between the Andalusian cases and the one from Avila we find the Semana Santa Marinera of Valencia, which according to the Junta Mayor itself there are a total of 31 associations between brotherhoods, brotherhoods and corporations. In some cases we are speaking of groups that are around 50 brothers. A feat to make possible this unique celebration.

How many processions are there in the Semana Santa Marinera: Is there a Penitential Station and Official Procession in Valencia?

On March 22, Friday of Sorrows, the first processions begin and until April 4 we can see the carvings by the seaside neighborhoods of the city of Valencia. According to the program of events of the Semana Santa Marina 2024 of Valencia, in the Grau, Cabanyal and Canyamelar more than 60 processions and transfers are held in almost two weeks. To this figure should be added the Via Crucis and minor events that brotherhoods, fraternities and corporations celebrate both in their respective parishes and in a more collected way in the nearest streets.

Unlike other Spanish celebrations, the Semana Santa Marinera does not include the concepts of Estación de Penitencia and Carrera Oficial. In the first case it is because the participating associations have as starting and ending points their parish, processioning through the streets closest to the neighborhood, while the closest thing to the Carrera Oficial in Valencia is the route of the Santo Entierro and the Desfile de Resurrección, which follow the same itinerary for all the brotherhoods, confraternities and corporations.

The essential processions of the Semana Santa Marinera (Marinera Holy Week)

The great advice to enjoy the Semana Santa Marinera of Valencia would be to consult the program of events and open to enjoy processions that fill with worship and homage any corner of this area of the capital. It is complicated to highlight five, but precisely these cases represent the idiosyncrasy of this Valencian festivity, celebrations that by their singularity make it a unique Holy Week in Spain. 

The first outstanding procession takes place this Friday, when the Virgen Dolorosa processions to costal; on March 24 takes place the transfer of the Holy Chalice and the Holy Christ of the Savior and Amparo, a perfect option to live one of the many transfers between the parishes and homes that take place these days. On Easter Monday the Poblados Marítimos are filled with fervor with the procession of the Christ of the Afflicted. Obviously the two acts in which all the brotherhoods, brotherhoods and corporations of the Maritime Holy Week of Valencia participate cannot be missing in this recommendation: the General Procession of the Holy Burial, which takes place on Friday, March 29, and the Parade of Resurrection, a unique parade for March 31.