Semana Santa in Aledo

Programme of events during Easter Week in Aledo

Aledo is high up above Totana and Alhama de Murcia in the mountains of the Sierra Espuña, and has retained much of its atmosphere since medieval times with the keep of the old castle dominating the town.

Aledo hosts an atmospheric Semana Santa, with the processions taking place through the winding streets of the old town, and one particularly interesting event is the performance of the Auto Sacramental, the Agonía de Cristo. This is very much along the lines of the plays in Old English which recreated the last days of Christ and is amongst the most important in the Region, following a tradition which dates back to the medieval court of King Alfonso X "El Sabio".

Viernes de Dolores, Friday of Sorrows (the Friday before Good Friday)

20.00: A Via Crucis, following a route through the streets of the town (Calle Alfonso X, Calle Cid Campeador, Calle San Ramón).

Holy Saturday

20.00: A Semana Santa concert performed by the Agrupación Musical de Aledo, taking place in the Centro Cultural.

Palm Sunday

10.30: A musical "Pasacalles" parade through the streets featuring the Banda Cabildo de Hermandades de Aledo.

11.30: Blessing of palm leaves and olive branches, followed by procession through the streets.

Easter Wednesday

22.00: Procession of silence.

Maundy Thursday

22.00: Procession of the Prendimiento de Cristo (The Taking of Christ). 

Good Friday

10.00: Procession del Calvario (the procession to Calvary).

18.00: Auto Sacramental de la Agonía del Señor. This is the theatrical representation of the last days of Christ, a tradition which originally came from the court of Alfonso X, and takes place inside the church of Santa María La Real.

22.00: Procession of the Santo Entierro (Holy Burial) through the main streets.

Easter Sunday 

10.00: The Procession of the Encuentro, during which there is a meeting between the figures of Jesús Resucitado and the Virgin Mary as well as San Juan Evangelista (St John the Baptist). The event takes place in the main streets of the town.