From an ascetically religious point of view, the essential thing is that the venerated images, the 'sacred figures', are brought out onto the streets of the neighbourhood; in reality, it is a lot more complicated than this. All the confraternities have to traverse what it is called “the Official Route”: covering Alameda Principal and Calle Larios; passing through Plaza de la Constitución to the Official Stand, and then along Calle Granada to Plaza del Carbón. All the fraternities have to complete this route. Along the route you can rent a chair from which to view the processions, by either purchasing a daily or weekly ticket. Prices differ from day to day and depend on the chair’s location. It's also common to rent or share balconies along the official route with family members or friends.
Time Schedules.
Throughout the procession there are two checkpoints that ensure each brotherhood follows the set time schedules. The first checkpoint is at the entrance to the Alameda Principal. The spaciousness of the central lane allows the processions to fill the whole avenue, until it curves round the sculpture of Larios Marquis. Various stands are located here. Calle Larios is, by definition, ‘the street’ of Malaga's Holy Week, and finding a place to stand here is practically impossible. The second checkpoint is located in Plaza de la Constitucion, also called the ‘Official Grandstand’, which is, socially speaking, the most important place from which to see the fraternities pass. Here access is restricted to those accompanied by a member from the main stage. Both checkpoints are supervised by the Commission for Times and Itineraries of the General Council of Fraternities of Malaga, an umbrella organisation that incorporates all the ‘Penance’ brotherhoods; those going under the name of ‘Glory’ are included in the General Council of Glory Brotherhoods of Malaga. Rent a chair. Renting a chair or a ‘palco’ (box) on the Alameda stage or the Official stage can be quite difficult, due to the vast majority of chairs and boxes being already occupied by the affiliated spectators. The Commission for Chairs and Boxes of the Council of Fraternities for Holy Week in Malaga is in charge of organising this undertaking, and every year summons its subscription-holders to renew their membership. When the deadline expires (this year it’s February 17), the available tickets are put on sale, direct from the Council of Fraternities. Later, tickets are also sold from a ticket office situated at the entrance to Larios street. Renting a chair is highly recommended; not only for seeing some of the fraternities, but more as a place to rest and a point of reference from which to make short excursions into the surrounding streets. Some may consider it too stationary to stay in the same spot day after day, and will prefer to wander around and enjoy the Holy Week more intensely. However, going from one place to another might be also difficult, especially if you’re not a local. The Official Route has its charm, and may be combined with other options to get the very best impression of Holy Week in Malaga. |
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Holy Week
Official route