Holy Week in Lucena: Unique in its history, unrivalled in the way it is experienced

‘Santería’: A living heritage that defines us

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Festival declared to be of Tourist Interest in Andalusia

‘Santería’, recognised as a National Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC).

Founding member of the European Network of Holy Week and Easter Celebrations and ‘Caminos de Pasión’

Days to Holy Week

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The Agrupación de Cofradías of Lucena, the heart and living memory of our Holy Week.

The Agrupación de Cofradías of Lucena is the coordinating force behind popular devotion in our town, a bond uniting all its brotherhoods and confraternities in a shared Christian and cultural spirit. Since its foundation in 1947, this institution has safeguarded the spiritual, cultural and artistic heritage that defines Lucena’s Holy Week, one of the most distinctive and deeply rooted in Andalusia, as well as the important Festivities of Glory that the town preserves.

Based in the very heart of Lucena, the Agrupación promotes unity, representation and support among the different brotherhoods and confraternities, channelling the efforts of generations of members who have turned faith into a living presence in our streets.

Its history is also the history of Lucena: a town that comes alive to the beat of drums, that adorns itself to welcome the thrones, and that breathes incense and devotion every spring. The Agrupación not only coordinates the brotherhoods, but also safeguards a tradition that transcends religion and has become a social, artistic and cultural phenomenon deeply rooted in Lucena’s identity.

The Agrupación’s website is the digital meeting place for everyone who cherishes our Holy Week and Festivities of Glory. From here, the doors open onto the past and present of our brotherhoods and confraternities, offering visitors a privileged window through which to discover, appreciate and be moved by Lucena’s brotherhood tradition.

‘Santería’

A living heritage that sets Lucena apart

‘Santería’, declared an Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC), is the defining hallmark of Lucena’s Holy Week and one of Andalusia’s most distinctive forms of intangible cultural heritage. This distinctive way of carrying the thrones —on the shoulder, with faces uncovered, without rehearsals or changes of bearers, guided by the ‘manijero’ and to the beat of the drum— forms a unique processional tradition transmitted orally from generation to generation. It brings together devotion, ritual aesthetics, collective effort, popular religiosity and living heritage, alongside a distinctive way of experiencing faith, memory and a sense of belonging to Lucena.

THE ‘SANTERÍA’

Plan your visit to Lucena’s Holy Week

Lucena’s Holy Week is experienced during its most important days, but also throughout all 365 days of the year: in its churches, brotherhoods and confraternities, brotherhood houses, craft workshops, tourist routes, cultural calendar, religious heritage and traditions. Plan your visit and discover a town where ‘Santería’ and brotherhood life are a living heritage and an integral part of its identity, a tradition unique in the world.

TOURISM IN LUCENA

What to visit

Discover the churches, sacred images, thrones, brotherhoods and confraternities, brotherhood houses, craft workshops and heritage sites associated with Lucena’s Holy Week.

Routes and itineraries

Explore Lucena through its religious history, traditions, traditional crafts and the places associated with Santería.

Getting here

Find the main transport connections to Lucena and plan your visit at any time of year.

Where to eat, stay and park

Complete your visit with a selection of places to eat and stay, and enjoy Lucena, its heritage, cuisine and cultural life.

Lucena Holy Week Tourist Guide

Get essential information about Lucena’s Holy Week, including its heritage, culture, cuisine, Santería, traditional crafts and tourist resources.

Passion and Glory ― 365 days a year

Passion, Glory and tradition all year round.

VIEW THE ANNUAL EVENTS CALENDAR

Latest news from Lucena’s Holy Week

All the latest news from Lucena’s brotherhoods: services, processions, heritage, events, traditional crafts and brotherhood life.

+ News

Discover our confraternities and brotherhoods

Discover the brotherhoods and confraternities that uphold the history, devotion and living heritage of Lucena’s Holy Week.

PASSION
GLORY

Frequently Asked Questions about Lucena’s Holy Week

When is Lucena’s Holy Week in 2027?

Lucena’s Holy Week 2027 will take place from Palm Sunday, 21st March, to Easter Sunday, 28th March. During these days, the brotherhoods and confraternities process through the town’s streets on their penitential processions, showcasing the distinctive character of Lucena’s Holy Week, a tradition unique in the world. View the programme

What is ‘santería’?

‘Santería’ is Lucena’s distinctive way of carrying the thrones, both during Holy Week and the Festivities of Glory. The ‘santeros’ carry the thrones on their shoulders, with their faces uncovered, without rehearsals or changes of bearers, guided by the ‘manijero’ and to the beat of the drum. Transmitted orally from generation to generation, it is one of the defining hallmarks of popular devotion in Lucena. Santería

Why is Lucena’s Holy Week unique?

Lucena’s Holy Week is distinguished by ‘santería’, declared an Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC), and by its rich artistic, religious, musical and craft heritage. Its confraternities, brotherhoods, ‘santeros’, craftspeople and local residents keep alive a tradition with deep historical roots, strong community participation and a distinctive way of experiencing the Passion. History

Can Lucena’s Holy Week be experienced throughout the year?

Yes. Lucena’s Holy Week is not confined to the days of Holy Week itself. The city keeps its brotherhood traditions alive throughout the year through acts of worships, annual events, brotherhood houses, craft workshops, tourist routes, religious heritage, publications, exhibitions and Festivities of Glory. Brotherhood events calendar

Where can you see the Holy Week processions in Lucena?

The processions can be viewed at different points along each brotherhood’s route and in particularly significant streets in the historic centre. To plan your visit, we recommend checking the official events calendar, times and updated routes in advance. View the programme

How to get to Lucena

Lucena is located in the heart of Andalusia, in the south of the province of Córdoba, within the Subbética region. Its location makes it easily accessible by road from Córdoba, Málaga, Seville and Granada, making it a convenient destination for cultural, religious and heritage tourism. Getting here

Are accommodation and tourist services available in Lucena and the surrounding area?

Yes. Lucena offers a range of accommodation, restaurants, shops and tourist services, together with cultural, heritage and culinary attractions that complement a visit during Holy Week or at any other time of year. Where to eat, where to stahy and parking

What other tourist attractions can I visit in Lucena?

In addition to its Holy Week, Lucena offers churches, museums, brotherhood houses, Baroque heritage, cultural routes, gastronomy, pottery, silversmithing, traditional brotherhood crafts and sites associated with its Jewish, Christian and Andalusi history. It also offers natural attractions and a range of outdoor activities in the surrounding area. What to visit

What role do craftspeople play in Lucena’s Holy Week?

Craft workshops are an essential part of the living heritage of Lucena’s Holy Week. Silver- and goldsmiths, woodcarvers, religious sculptors, embroiderers, conservators, florists, shoemakers, seamstresses and other specialist craftspeople help preserve the aesthetics, identity and material richness of the brotherhoods, while also bringing Lucena’s craftsmanship to brotherhoods, institutions and heritage projects throughout Spain. Brotherhood craftmanship

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