Holy Week in Jerez: History, Faith, and Tradition in the Heart of Andalusia
Holy Week in Jerez de la Frontera is much more than a commemoration; it is the reflection of the living history of a city that has managed to fuse faith with Baroque art and the purest sentiment of its neighborhoods. Declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest, it is one of the richest and most solemn displays in all of Andalusia.
A Journey Through History: Origins and Evolution
The seeds of our Holy Week were sown after the Reconquista, but it was in the 16th century when the first brotherhoods (cofradías) were born. Thanks to the patronage of noble families and the thriving wine industry, the brotherhoods surrounded themselves with the finest imagery and embroidery, elevating their "pasos" (floats) into authentic walking monuments.
The Brotherhoods: History and Devotion in Jerez
La Estrella (Palm Sunday)
Historically linked to the San José School, it represents light and hope. It is the brotherhood of La Salle, where the purity of children singing to the Virgin Mary is one of the hallmarks of Jerez's youth.
El Transporte (Palm Sunday)
Based in the Basilica of La Merced, this is the brotherhood of transporters and Mercedarians. Its imposing "misterio" float represents the Scorn of Herod, one of the most regal scenes of our Holy Week. Its titular Virgin is "Madre de Dios de la Misericordia," one of the city's great devotions, whose majestic canopy defines the prestige and tradition of this day.
La Viga (Holy Monday)
The Brotherhood of the Cathedral. Its centerpiece is the Cristo de la Viga, a Gothic carving from the 15th century and the oldest in the city. It represents the sobriety and heritage of the ancient collegiate church.
La Santa Cena (Holy Monday)
From the San Marcos Parish, it offers one of the most classic and imposing "Last Supper" scenes in Andalusia, representing the institution of the Eucharist with exceptional artistic mastery.
Amor y Sacrificio (Holy Monday)
One of the most followed brotherhoods. No music, only the sound of the wooden poles and the rhythmic shuffling of the barefoot brothers. It represents the purest grief and absolute austerity.
Los Judíos de San Mateo (Holy Tuesday)
The Brotherhood of "El Desconsuelo" is the soul of our neighborhood. Its Baroque ensemble is a jewel of incalculable value, and its presence in San Mateo is the very essence of our tradition.
La Defensión (Holy Tuesday)
Based in the Capuchinos Convent, it stands out for its military order, elegance, and the Cristo de la Defensión, a work of art that serves as a reference for sobriety and classicism.
El Prendimiento (Holy Wednesday)
"El Prendi" is the essence of the Santiago neighborhood. Its image is an icon of Jerez culture, and its procession through Calle Ancha is a fundamental pillar of our identity.
Las Tres Caídas (Holy Wednesday)
Residing in the Diocesan Sanctuary of San Lucas. The "Santísimo Cristo de la Salud" commands immense devotion in Jerez; he is known as the "Lord of San Lucas." This brotherhood is the heir to an ancient faith, and its passage through the streets is a display of popular fervor and a heart-wrenching silence.
La Amargura (Holy Wednesday)
The Lady of Calle Medina. She represents maximum elegance, a brotherhood with a heritage of exquisite embroidery and a tradition that makes it one of the great highlights of the week.
Oración en el Huerto (Holy Thursday)
Based in the Santo Domingo Convent, its scene is one of the most imposing. Its passage through Alameda Cristina is one of the city's most classic images.
Vera Cruz (Holy Thursday)
One of the brotherhoods with the most history in Jerez. It maintains the spirit of the primitive brotherhoods around San Juan de los Caballeros, standing out for its rigor and incalculable historical value.
El Nazareno & Santo Crucifijo (The Night of Jesus)
The "Lord of Jerez" (El Nazareno) draws thousands of followers behind his cross. In contrast, the Santo Crucifijo represents absolute silence and the pinnacle of elegance during the "Madrugá" (dawn).
El Silencio (The Night of Jesus)
From the Gothic jewel of the San Miguel Parish, this brotherhood represents maximum rigor. Its departure from the temple in complete darkness is a moment of breathtaking recollection.
La Esperanza de la Yedra (The Madrugá)
The joy of "La Plazuela." This Virgin is one of the most popular devotions, especially during her return to the temple at daylight, surrounded by her neighborhood.
El Cristo (Good Friday)
The "Cristo de la Expiración" in San Telmo. Its deep link to the neighborhood and its characteristic natural hair wig are the emotional climax of Jerez's Passion.
La Soledad (Good Friday)
Represents the elegance of mourning and sobriety. Its passage through the city center streets, with the solemnity characteristic of the Victoria brotherhood, is an unmissable event.
Las Viñas (Good Friday)
The Brotherhood of Exaltación brings the fervor of its neighborhood to the streets. Its float is famous for its characteristic "tumbaito" (swaying) walk, a movement that ignites passions.
Santa Marta (Holy Saturday)
The pride of San Mateo. A brotherhood with unique iconography that processes through the streets of our neighborhood, bringing the warmth of the local community.
La Piedad (Holy Saturday)
The artistic finishing touch with the "Duelo" in the Royal Chapel of Calvario. Maximum solemnity for the final afternoon of mourning.
El Resucitado (Easter Sunday)
The victory of Life. It closes the cycle of the Passion with joy from the Cathedral.
🏠 Experience the Passion from the Heart of San Mateo
At Antonio Parra Tourist Apartments, Santa Marta and Los Judíos are our neighbors. Experience Holy Week without a car, feeling the heartbeat of history at every step.
✨ BOOK NOW FOR 2026Passion Milestones: Moments for Reflection
Discover the places and moments where emotion becomes palpable each day:
PALM SUNDAY
- La Estrella: Their departure, with children from La Salle singing emotionally at the beginning of their route.
- La Merced: The imposing departure of the Virgin from her Basilica under the gaze of the city's Patroness.
HOLY MONDAY
- La Santa Cena: Its distinguished procession through the Plaza de la Compañía.
- Amor y Sacrificio: The sepulchral silence broken only by the sharp strike of the wooden poles.
- La Viga: The solemnity of its entry into the Cathedral amidst clouds of incense.
HOLY TUESDAY
- Los Judíos de San Mateo: Crossing the Plaza del Mercado, in the heart of our neighborhood and right in front of our apartments.
- La Defensión: The sobriety and order of the Christ through the streets of the historic center.
HOLY WEDNESDAY
- El Prendimiento: The Santiago neighborhood completely devoted to "El Prendi" during its return to the temple.
- Las Tres Caídas: The deep devotion to the "Cristo de la Salud" in the surroundings of San Lucas.
- La Amargura: The supreme elegance of its passage through Calle Tornería.
HOLY THURSDAY
- Oración en el Huerto: Its imposing presence through Alameda Cristina.
- Vera Cruz: Silence and austerity through the narrow streets near San Juan de los Caballeros.
NIGHT OF JESUS (MADRUGÁ)
- El Silencio: Its departure from the San Miguel Parish in absolute darkness.
- El Nazareno: Its arrival at San Juan de Letrán with the first rays of sunlight on Good Friday.
- La Esperanza de la Yedra: Its return to "La Plazuela" in full daylight, surrounded by its people.
GOOD FRIDAY
- Las Viñas: The famous "tumbaito" sway of its float and seeing it return beneath the Calle Arcos bridge.
- La Soledad: The solemn and elegant procession along La Porvera.
- El Cristo: Its imposing passage near the ancient city walls.
HOLY SATURDAY
- Santa Marta: Processing with pride through the streets of our San Mateo neighborhood.
- La Piedad: The solemnity of the "Duelo" returning to its chapel through Calle Tornería.
EASTER SUNDAY
- El Resucitado: The final encounter and the celebration of life in the Holy Cathedral Church.