April 11 to 20 Semana Santa 2025 in Yecla

The traditional Easter processions of Yecla date back to at least the 16^th century

As in many other parts of the Region of Murcia Semana Santa is a very important week in the calendar of Yecla and a number of impressive processions are held featuring the town’s religious and artistic heritage. These are organized by the “Cofradías” (or brotherhoods) who undertake the religious parades of penitence, and have been declared as being of Regional Tourist Interest.

Yecla also has an excellent Semana Santa museum in the atmospheric former church of La Asunción, which contains the more than 80 figures and tableaux paraded in the streets every year in 11 processions as well as embroidered adornments, gold and silver pieces and wooden sculpture. The best known of the figures is the Virgen de las Angustias, created by Francisco Salzillo in 1763, which is usually revered in the Basílica de la Purísima, and the statue of Santísimo Cristo de la Adoración de la Cruz by José Esteve Bonet (1800).

The schedule of events for Semana Santa 2025 in Yecla is as follows:

Friday April 11 (Viernes de Dolores, Friday of Sorrows)

22.00: The Procession of the 7 Words of Jesus on the Cross

Route: The church of San Nicolás, Algezares, Mediodía, Cerro, San Isidro, San Cristóbal, Pintor Miguel Palao, Cruz de Piedra, Hospital, Placeta Ortega, España, Plaza de la Purísima, Basílica de la Purísima.

Saturday April 12

21.00: The Procesión de la Sangre y el Perdón

Route: The church of San José Artesano, Paco Corbalán, Maestro Mora, Francisco Castaño, Avda. Literato Azorín, Cura Ibáñez, Arcipreste Esteban Díaz and back to the church of San José Artesano.

Sunday April 13, Palm Sunday

11.00: The Procession of the Palms

Route: Plaza Mayor, La Corredera, Jabonería, Hospital, Placeta Ortega, España, Plaza de la Purísima, Basílica de la Purísima.

The Procession of the Palms or "La Burrica" (the little donkey, because it includes a little donkey) is among the most popular and is accompanied by a multitude of children and adults carrying palm leaves and olive branches.

Monday April 14, Lunes Santo (Holy Monday)

22.00: The Penitential Procesión del Rosario

Route: The church of the Niño Jesús, Juan Ortuño, San Bartolomé, Algeciras, Bailén, Ramblizo, Madrid, Serratillas, Santa Bárbara, Niño Jesús, Arco del Niño, Juan Ortuño and back to the church of the Niño Jesús.

Tuesday April 15, Martes Santo (Easter Tuesday)

21.00: The Procesión de los Farolicos

Route: The church of San Francisco, Parque de la Constitución, San Francisco, Plaza de España, Plaza de la Purísima, Basílica de la Purísima.

This is arguably the most picturesque event of the week, as children accompanying the tableau of Christ in a reclined position carry their small lanterns throughout the event.

Thursday April 16, Jueves Santo (Maundy Thursday)

21.00: The Procesión de la Pasión

Route: Plaza de la Purísima, España, San Isidro, Cruz de Piedra, Hospital, Niño Jesús, Pintor Aguirre, Juan Ortuño, Plaza de la Purísima, Basílica de la Purísima.

This is another popular procession among visitors, featuring 17 Pasos or carved figures in the procession known and more than 3,000 participants in an event full of light, music, flowers, art and devotion.

Midnight: The Procession in Silence

Route: The Iglesia del Hospitalico, Jabonería, La Corredera, Plaza Mayor, Epifanio Ibáñez, Quevedo, Niño Jesús, Arco del Niño, Juan Ortuño, Plaza de la Purísima, España, Placeta Ortega, Hospital and back to the Iglesia del Hospitalico.

For this procession all the lights are turned off in the centre of town and the penitents are accompanied only by the sounds of saetas, a type of hymn sung by a lone voice, and the prayers of the participants in the Vía Crucis. This is always an atmospheric occasion, charged with emotion as the penitents mourn the betrayal of Christ.

Friday April 17, Viernes Santo (Good Friday)

9.00: The Procession of Calvary

Route: Plaza de la Purísima, Juan Ortuño, Arco del Niño, Quevedo, Epifanio Ibáñez, Plaza Mayor, Concejal Sebastián Pérez (where the Cortesía takes place at 11.00), La Corredera, Cruz de Piedra, San Isidro, España, Plaza de la Purísima, Basílica de la Purísima.

20.00: The Procesión del Santo Entierro

Route: Plaza de la Purísima, España, San Isidro, Cruz de Piedra, Hospital, Niño Jesús, Pintor Aguirre, Juan Ortuño, Plaza de la Purísima, Basílica de la Purísima.

Followed by the Cortejo del Santo Entierro: Plaza de España, San Francisco, Parque de la Constitución, Iglesia de San Francisco.

This is another procession featuring 17 pasos, starting at sunset. It is one of the most emotional occasions of Semana Santa for the faithful.

Midnight: The Procesión de la Soledad

Route: Iglesia de San Francisco, Parque de la Constitución, San Francisco, Plaza de España, Martínez Corbalán, Hospital, Iglesia del Hospitalico.

The Virgen de la Soledad joins the procession while the public sings the moving "Stabat Mater Dolorosa". The night ends with “La Plática de Despedida" o "Sermón de la Soledad” (Sermon of solitude).

Sunday April 20, Domingo de Resurrección (Easter Sunday)

9.00: The Procesión del Resucitado

Route: Plaza de la Purísima, Martínez Corbalán, Niño Jesús, Juana Valera, Epifanio Ibáñez, Plaza Mayor, Concejal Sebastián Pérez.

The figure of Cristo Resucitado leaves the church of San Francisco at 10.15 via the Parque de la Constitución, San Francisco, Plaza de España, Martínez Corbalán, Hospital, Maestro Polo, Corredera, Plaza Mayor and Concejal Sebastián Pérez. The “encuentro” and the reléase of the “Diablico” takes place at 11.00 before the procession continues to La Corredera, Cruz de Piedra, San Isidro, España, Plaza de la Purísima and the Basílica de la Purísima.

This is a highly unusual procession due to the presence of “El Diablico”, a little devil who runs around the procession attempting to escape the triumph of Life over Death and Good over Evil!

If visiting Yecla don’t forget to make sure one of your first ports of call is the tourist office (Plaza Mayor, 1, telephone 968 754104, email turismo@yecla.es).

And while visiting, don’t forget to try the typical local gastronomy of the time of year, including pasties filled with potato, or a white bean stew with balls of cod!

For more local events, news and visiting information go to the home page of Yecla Today.