Holy Week in Jaén
Floats between Vandelvira façades and impossibly steep streets.
Key points
- In 2027, Holy Week runs from Palm Sunday, 21 March, to Easter Sunday, 28 March.
- The processions in Úbeda and Baeza pass through World Heritage Renaissance streets and squares.
- In Jaén, Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno, «el Abuelo», comes out in the early hours of Good Friday.
Few Holy Weeks have a setting like Jaén's. The floats move between Vandelvira façades, under medieval arches and up impossible slopes, watched by crowds who know every corner. Each town has its own character, and all are worth the trip.
Úbeda and Baeza
In Úbeda, the brotherhoods pass through Plaza Vázquez de Molina in front of El Salvador: the most photographed scene. In Baeza, the silence of some night processions around Plaza de Santa María and the cathedral is moving. The towns are 9 km apart: you can see processions in both on the same day.
Jaén city
The early hours of Good Friday are the big night: Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno, whom locals call «el Abuelo» (the Grandfather), moves through the city amid huge crowds. The cathedral is the centre of the official route.
Other Holy Weeks
- Alcalá la RealProcessions with the Fortaleza de la Mota as a backdrop.
- LinaresOne of the most traditional in the province.
- CazorlaMountain-village processions along steep streets.
Tips
To make the most of it
- Book accommodation months in advance.
- Check each brotherhood's official times and routes, published in March.
- Try the seasonal sweets: pestiños, hornazos and Holy Week roscos.
Frequently asked questions
When is Holy Week 2027?
From Palm Sunday, 21 March, to Easter Sunday, 28 March 2027.