Easter is coming up, and Mallorca is getting ready for the Holy Week. Today, the first of the traditional Easter processions in Palma takes place. To the slow rhythm of a marching band a solemn parade makes its way through the narrow streets. Dressed in long robes and tall pointed hats, the brotherhoods carry their banners to the Cathedral, heralding the start of Semana Santa 2025 on the island.
During the Holy Week the sound of haunting drums and trumpets fill the old town, often until long after midnight. The streets after sunset lined with people, intrigued by the silent figures with their capirotes. Many of them barefoot on the cold cobblestone, some even wearing iron chains around their ankles.
Everybody applauds when the costaleros, the hidden carriers, lift the heavy pasos. Richly decorated altar stages depicting scenes from the Passion. And even the youngest walk for hours, proud to wipe off the wax from the long candles to keep them burning. The faces serious, they give away small candies and prayer cards to the bystanders.
The Routes of the Easter Processions in Palma
From Palm Sunday on, twelve more Easter processions in Palma will take place. The Processó de l’entrada de Jesús a Jerusalem starts at 6 p.m. at the church of Sant Jaume and leads through Passeig d’es Born and Sant Feliu via Jaume III further up Carrer de Bonaire to Església de la Concepció.
On Monday night there will be four processions in different parts of old town. The longest procession, however, is the one on Holy Thursday when all confrarias participate, heading to the cathedral. It starts at 7 p.m. at the place behind La Misericòrdia, crosses La Rambla and leads up Carrer Oms to Sant Miquel where it turns right towards Plaça Major. The brotherhoods follow Carrer de Colon and pass the town hall on their way to La Seu.
Semana Santa in Palma culminates in the Good Friday parade that starts at 7 p.m. at Sant Francesc, leads via Santa Eulalia, Plaça Cort and Plaça Coll through the narrow streets of Sa Gerreria up to Plaça Sant Antoni and back to the Església de Nuestra Señora del Socors.
Finally, Easter Sunday is a day of joyful celebration. Lent is over, spring has arrived and with it new life. 
More about the Easter processions in Palma and their routes this year, right here.
