Segovia’s top secret spots for unforgettable religious festivals

Segovia’s Holy Week is a deeply spiritual event with a unique artistic sensibility, featuring parades of religious sculptures and music through the city’s historic streets. The highlight is the Procession of the Holy Burial on Good Friday, which begins at the Plaza Mayor, passes by the cathedral, and winds through the Canonjías quarter before eventually returning to the starting point. Other significant processions include the Procession of Jesus on the Cross on the Sunday before Palm Sunday, the Procession of Silence on Holy Tuesday, and the Procession of the Holy Christ of the Gascons on Holy Wednesday. On Holy Thursday, the Passion of the Christ is enacted in the Plaza Mayor, concluding with a procession that passes by the Vera Cruz church and ends at the cathedral. Following the tradition of Romanesque churches, the Vera Cruz church features a circular structure with an altar inside the circle, an apse, and a tower that serves as a bell tower. In the afternoon, the Procession of the Suffering Virgin passes by the main churches of Segovia, and at night, the Procession of the Holy Burial takes place, with the Good Friday Procession and the subsequent Procession of the Holy Burial, culminating in the Procession of the Seven Words. On Holy Saturday, the Procession of Solitude takes place, and on Easter Sunday, the Procession of the Risen One occurs. Segovia’s Holy Week culminates on Easter Sunday with a unique procession known as the Procession of the Risen One, which begins at the Church of San Andrés and passes by the Church of San Miguel before ending at the Church of San Esteban. This procession features the Risen Christ and the Virgin Mary, who meet at the Plaza Mayor, where the Virgin’s black mourning cloak is removed to reveal a white one, symbolizing her joy at her son’s resurrection. This procession is known for its joyful atmosphere, with participants dressed in bright colors, and it is accompanied by fireworks and the release of doves. The Virgin of the Fuencisla is Segovia’s patron saint, and her festival is celebrated on September 25th. Devotees gather at the Church of San Andrés, where the Virgin’s statue is kept, and carry it in a procession to the Fuencisla shrine, located at the bottom of a narrow gorge. The procession is a colorful event, with participants dressed in traditional Segovian costumes, and it includes a stop at the Monastery of San Juan de la Cruz, where the statue is crowned. The festival continues with a series of religious events, including a solemn Mass and a rosary, and it culminates with a fireworks display. The festival of San Juan and San Pedro is celebrated in Segovia with a series of events that include the traditional “enramadas,” where young men decorate the balconies of their sweethearts with flowers and greenery. The festival also features a procession of the statues of San Juan and San Pedro, which are carried through the streets of Segovia, accompanied by music and dance. This is followed by a series of concerts, theater performances, and other cultural events that take place throughout the city. The festival is a time of joy and celebration, with locals and visitors alike taking part in the festivities. The festival of San Frutos, Segovia’s patron saint, is celebrated on October 25th. The day begins with a solemn Mass at the cathedral, followed by a procession of the saint’s statue through the streets of the city. The procession is accompanied by music and dance, and it culminates with the traditional “San Frutos Dance,” a lively folk dance performed in the Plaza Mayor. The festival also includes a series of cultural and sporting events, as well as a traditional feast of roast lamb and other local delicacies. The festival is a time of joy and celebration, with locals and visitors alike taking part in the festivities. The festival of San Lorenzo is celebrated in the historic neighborhood of the same name, located in the heart of Segovia. The festival begins on the evening of August 9th with a procession of the statue of San Lorenzo, which is carried through the streets of the neighborhood, accompanied by music and dance. The procession is followed by a fireworks display, and the festivities continue throughout the night with concerts, theater performances, and other cultural events. The festival culminates on August 10th with a solemn Mass at the Church of San Lorenzo, followed by a traditional feast of roast lamb and other local delicacies. The festival of San Marcos is celebrated in the historic neighborhood of the same name, located in the heart of Segovia. The festival begins on April 25th with a procession of the statue of San Marcos, which is carried through the streets of the neighborhood, accompanied by music and dance. The procession is followed by a series of cultural and sporting events, as well as a traditional feast of roast lamb and other local delicacies. The festival is a time of joy and celebration, with locals and visitors alike taking part in the festivities.