The Guide to Holy Week in Andalusia

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Agua
This street ('Agua' literally means 'Water') is named after a well that used to be located here and which became well known after the Christians re-conquered the area. The water was of excellent quality and so abundant that it was able to supply the entire neighbourhood. Apart from the well, there was also a spring on Mount Gibralfaro, located at the end of the street. In the 18th century, the spring was known as La Fuente de la Salud (The Spring of Health). At the same location, in the basement or underground car park of the last building on the right (number 20), you can find various pantheons and the remains of a plaster-relief decorative mural with impressed plants pertaining to the Muslim necropolis of Yabal Farhuh, which was functional from the 11th to the 15th century. The necropolis occupied this side of Mount Gibralfaro, Calle de La Victoria and the northern district as far as the area of Lagunillas

2 processions will march along this street in Holy Week      See info

Alameda Capuchinos
Named after the Convent of Capuchinos, which was turned into a barracks following the 'Mendizábal Disendowment'. The former convent is situated in a plaza at the beginning of the 'Alameda' (Boulevard/Avenue). There is another plaza, known as Fuente Olletas, at the opposite end of the avenue and which was, until 1973, the city's gateway to inland Spain.

A procession will march along this street in Holy Week      See info

Alameda Principal
This was once an area of defensive walls and beaches until, in the 18th century, it was converted into an urban zone designed by López Mercader. Elegant houses and mansions were built along this tree-lined avenue (the term 'Alameda' means Boulevard/Avenue, but it also means 'Poplar grove'), which were mainly owned by merchants, and it became a fashionable area of 19th century Málaga. At that time, the avenue was known as Salón de Bilbao. There was a central pedestrian walkway with many sculptures and fountains and carriage lanes on both sides. It was the hub of Málaga's social life until the opening of a new street, Calle Larios, which then took on that special status. In 1925, the central walkway was opened to traffic, transforming it into a modern avenue known as Alfonso XIII. After the Spanish Civil War, it was renamed Avenida del Generalísimo and some of its more emblematic buildings were built. In 1966, it was extended across the river via the bridge known as El Puente de Tetuán.

85 processions will march along this street in Holy Week      See info

Álamos
This street runs alongside Málaga's Medieval defensive wall. It dates back to the period when the Christians re-conquered the region and was designed as an access route between two of the gateways in the defensive wall: those known as de Granada and de Buenaventura. The Catholic Monarchs ordered the construction of a new marketplace, but only the street was ever completed. Poplars were planted along the pavement, hence its name 'Álamos' (Poplars). One side of the street was formed by the defensive wall and surrounding moat. In 1721, permission was granted to build over the moat so that the street would have pavements constructed on both sides. In 1892, it was agreed to name the street Alameda de Cánovas del Castillo, in memory of a local politician who played an important role in the redesigning of the port. The street was renamed Álamos in 1939.

16 processions will march along this street in Holy Week      See info

Alcazabilla
Its name comes from the fact that it is situated close to the defensive walls of La Alcazaba. After the Christians re-conquered the region, the street was narrower than it is now and was known as de los Monteros. Around the mid-19th century, various attempts were made to join the street up with Calle La Victoria and to knock down La Alcazaba in order to make way for the construction of luxury flats and a 45-metre wide avenue that would link up Plaza de la Merced and Hospital Noble. The street was opened to traffic from 1921 to 1999, when it became a pedestrian zone and gave access to the Teatro Romano (Roman Theatre) and the Gardens of Ibn Gabirol, which border onto the Judería (Jewish Quarter), where the Picasso Museum now stands.

7 processions will march along this street in Holy Week      See info

Alderete
This street is named after a local 16th century archaeologist, philosopher and scholar. He studied at the University of Osuna and was Canon of Córdoba Cathedral. He was an archaeological and linguistic researcher as well as a friend and companion of Luis de Góngora y Argote. He was the most important philosopher of the late 16th and early 17th century and the author of many works. Another local-born researcher, Medina Conde, would later refer to his studies in order to describe archaeological sites around Málaga. He is buried in the Iglesia Catedral (Cathedral Church), opposite the Reliquary.

2 processions will march along this street in Holy Week      See info

Altozano
Situated in the neighbourhood of Lagunillas, close to La Cruz Verde. The name Altozano means a low mount surrounded by flat land, which in this case probably refers to the nearby promontory known as El Ejido.

2 processions will march along this street in Holy Week      See info

Álvarez
Named after Antonio María Álvarez de Guindós y Gutiérrez de Aragón, who was born in Málaga in the 19th century. By the age of 34, he was already the political and military Governor. He profited greatly when convents were auctioned off during the disendowment period and he was also a military supplier. He was behind the urban expansion of Puerta del Mar and El Pasaje de Chinitas, as well as purchasing the former women's prison situated between Plaza de la Constitución and Calle Granada and designing El Pasaje de Heredia, which is soon to disappear. He owned some land next to Calle Marqués de Valdeflores on which he built a bullring known as La Plaza de Toros de Álvarez, designed by the architect Rafael Mitjana.

A procession will march along this street in Holy Week      See info

Álvaro de Bazán
Named after a famous 16th century Spanish admiral who was born in Granada and died in Lisbon. He was the first Marquis of Santa Cruz and held all offices, titles and honours. He took part in capturing El Peñón de Vélez de Gomera and in the first battle of Lepanto. He also occupied Tunisia and defeated the English in the Azores. He kept the French, Turks and English in check and died just before he was to take command of the Spanish Armada.

A procession will march along this street in Holy Week      See info

Amargura
Named after a small shrine on Calvario hill where people went to worship a statue of Christ. Subsequently, various clerics and laymen, who were all members of a certain Brotherhood, founded a church on the site, marking the way with stone crosses to commemorate the painful route taken by Jesus on his way up Mount Calvary in Jerusalem. On Good Friday, there is an old tradition in Málaga whereby people walk up the hill while praying and place a stone at each of the crosses.

3 processions will march along this street in Holy Week      See info

Ancha del Carmen
The name of this street ('ancha', meaning 'wide') comes from the fact that it is the widest approach road to the Parish Church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen, patron saint of sailors, located in the area of Málaga known as Perchel, which is itself closely linked to seafaring trades.

2 processions will march along this street in Holy Week      See info

Antonio Baena Gómez
Named after a famous local figure of humble descent who became a contractor of great standing. He started off as a workman helping to construct Calle Larios, but soon moved on to greater things. As from 1903, he was behind innumerable civil works, such as the Ayuntamiento (City Hall), the Casa de la Misericordia, the Huelín Tobacco factory, the Cochera de Tranvías (Tram Yard), the Pavilion of the Estación de Suburbanos, the Antiguo Banco Hispano Americano, the houses of Félix Sáenz and the renovation of El Asilo de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles, which he did at his own expense. He was the Head Brother of the Confraternity of La Sangre and incorporated the religious statue known as La Virgen de la Consolidación y Lágrimas, which was previously housed in his private chapel. The procession carrying this statue became the most luxurious in all of Málaga and a red carpet was specially laid along the entire length of Calle Larios. He was the first president of the Association of Confraternities and was named a favourite son of Málaga in 1926. In 1936, he was shot by firing squad in San Rafael cemetery, which was then known as El Batatá

A procession will march along this street in Holy Week      See info

Atarazanas
The word 'Ataranzas' is of Moorish origin and means 'The House of Fabrication', and there was once a building here that was constructed during the Moorish occupation where boats were repaired and ropemakers worked. In the late 18th century, the building became the quarters of the Artillery Barracks, the College of Surgeons and the Military and Prisoners' Hospital, used during epidemics. The Aduana (Customs) used to be next to Las Atarazanas until it was relocated to El Palacio de la Aduana (The Customs House) in the 19th century. This street was named Calle de Andrés Mellado in 1898, in honour of this local figure who became the Mayor of Madrid.

14 processions will march along this street in Holy Week      See info

Avenida Carlos Haya
Named after a famous local aviator who fought under General Franco during the Spanish Civil War. The local hospital, Hospital Carlos Haya, which is located on this avenue, was also named after him. However, the hospital will shortly be renamed Blas Infante.

2 processions will march along this street in Holy Week      See info

Avenida de Andalucía
Construction of this avenue was made possible when a large number of houses were demolished in the Perchel district, thus dividing it into two sections: Upper Perchel and Lower Perchel. When the area was urbanised in 1979, many large stores opened here, such as Cortefiel and El Corte Inglés. Many large buildings were also constructed, including luxury homes, offices and administrative buildings (the Inland Revenue and the main Post Office), turning it into a major avenue and a prolongation of La Alameda Principal (literally, The Main Avenue).

6 processions will march along this street in Holy Week      See info

Avenida de Cervantes
Miguel de Cervantes y Saavedra, the 16th and 17th century Spanish writer, is the greatest figure in Spanish literature and author of El Quijote. He fought at Lepanto, where he lost part of the movement in his left hand. He took part in various expeditions, during which time he was captured by the Turks and imprisoned in Algiers for 5 years. He worked as a Royal Tax Collector and spent some time in Málaga.

A procession will march along this street in Holy Week      See info

Avenida de la Aurora
Its name comes from a textile factory known as La Aurora which, along with its gardens, was located at the end of the alleyways in the district of Perchel. Founded by Carlos Larios, the factory closed down in 1905 and was then used as a hospital during the African wars. It was later used as a site for light industry and for Bodegas Larios. When they were relocated, the entire area underwent a process of urban reshaping, enabling homes and large public buildings to be constructed.

3 processions will march along this street in Holy Week      See info

Avenida de la Rosaleda
Originally known as Pasillo de San Rafael, but popularly known as Pasillo de la Cárcel, due to the fact that the Provincial Prison was built there ('Cárcel' means 'Prison'). It runs alongside the river, from the bridge known as El Puente de la Aurora to the bridge known as El Puente de Armiñan. Its present name comes from the fact that it is very close to the Málaga F.C. football stadium (known as La Rosaleda).

A procession will march along this street in Holy Week      See info

Avenue Comandante Benitez
Julio Benitez Benitez, born in el Burgo, was a professional soldier that fought in several fronts and accomplished the exploit that went down in history in 1921 in Igueriben, against the troops of Abd-el-Krim of saying:' Those of that Igueriben die but not surrender'. Besides this street, there is a monument that pays him tribute at the Paseo del Parque and the Militar Camp of Malaga (closed since 1995) was also named after him

A procession will march along this street in Holy Week      See info

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