Amidst all the excitement of Ferias around Andalucia every spring, another major celebration takes place near here: El Rocio. For over 200 years, every Whitsun, pilgrims have walked to this small town in Huelva to worship the adored Virgen del…
Purple passion: Las Cigarreras on Jueves Santo
This year, Semana Santa here in Seville was, yet again, adversely affected by the weather. The processions which fill the city with statues, hooded penitents, incense, and devotion during Holy Week, were curtailed by rain, as so often happens –…
The Andalucia Show: from Almeria to Seville
My children with their flag, fan and pennant in the regional verde y blanco to celebrate Dia de Andalucia, 28 February. My daughter is proudly showing off her mixed heritage. Children here in Andalucia are inculcated with a strong sense…
Up with the gods: Seville cathedral cubiertas tour, part one
Last weekend, we made one of our day trips, to Sanlucar de Barrameda, a coastal town near Jerez and Cadiz, just across the mouth of the Guadalquivir river from Doñana National Park (seen in the distance in this photo). The…
The route of the virgin
As the paso starts to emerge from the church – one of the most intricate manoeuvres, given that they are often little narrower than the entrance arch itself – a hush falls over the crowd. Anticipation sizzles through the people…