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Five of the Region of Murcia’s most original Holy Week processions

From fishermen in yellow coats to the thunder of drums - these lesser-known Semana Santa traditions offer something a little different

By mid-Holy Week, the streets of Murcia, Cartagena and Lorca are usually packed with colour and tradition. But look beyond the big city processions and you’ll find smaller, lesser-known events that are just as moving, and often far more personal.

From coastal villages to quiet inland towns, these celebrations go off the usual tourist trail and reveal a more intimate, local experience of Semana Santa. Here are five of the Region's most original Holy Week traditions.

1. Christ of the Fishermen, Cabo de Palos

On Holy Thursday in the fishing village of Cabo de Palos, Christ the Fisherman is carried through the streets — not by hooded figures in tunics, but by locals in yellow raincoats and boots. Many are fishermen themselves, and the procession follows a short route from the Church of Santa María del Mar, right by the marina, to the fish market.

The only soundtrack? The haunting calls of conch shells, echoing across the port as night falls.

2. Procession of Silence, Jumilla

This striking procession has been part of Jumilla’s Holy Week since 1845. Held on Holy Tuesday at midnight, it winds through the town’s old quarter in almost complete darkness.

There’s no band, no music; just the sound of shuffling feet and a single bell. Penitents dressed in black move slowly through the streets, creating an atmosphere that is as powerful as it is peaceful.

3. The Drums of Moratalla

Technically not a procession, the Moratalla tamborada is more of a ritual. Over three days, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday, thousands of hand-made drums fill the town with sound from morning to night.

The drummers, dressed in vividly coloured robes, don’t follow a set rhythm. Instead, each plays their own improvised beat, adding to a powerful, almost trance-like atmosphere.

You might also like: Why Spain’s Easter hoods look like the KKK – and why they’re nothing alike

4. The Holy Burial, Alhama de Murcia

On Good Friday evening, Alhama holds one of its most historic processions: the Holy Burial. Dozens of floats are carried through the streets by five local brotherhoods, their robes in deep purple, red, white, blue and black. Traditional music, flowers and candles all add to the spectacle.

Later that night, there’s a quieter, more personal moment: the transfer of the Recumbent Christ to Calvary, open to anyone who wants to take part.

5. The Encounter, Abarán

Abarán’s most emotional procession comes on Easter Sunday. Known as the Encuentro, it takes place in the town square, where two statues, the Risen Christ and the Virgin of Beautiful Love, meet in front of a silent crowd.

The Virgin bows three times, still in mourning black. Then, in a moving final gesture, her cloak is removed to reveal a white robe of joy. White doves are released into the sky, marking the Resurrection.

Whether it’s the sound of a drum or the hush of midnight, these lesser-known traditions capture a different kind of spirit - one that’s rooted in place, people and emotion. Holy Week in Murcia has many faces, and sometimes, the quietest moments leave the deepest impression.

Also of interest: What on earth is a torrija? Spain’s most irresistible Easter treat explained

Image: Alem Sanchez/Pexels

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