EASTER IN MADRID -

PROCESSION ROUTES and OTHER INFORMATION

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Now updated for 2010 with information collected different places, may be some (hopefully minor) errors. If shown in blue still 2009 pending new info but will probably be very similiar

Here is some information on the main processions in the older part of Madrid and a few in the newer part. This information is taken from posters seen in the street so may not be perfect - but once you find part of the route it's not difficult to follow a procession. My personal suggestions for watching places are in italics, though it may be hard to get a spot. Remember that the beginning of procession at the church is always special. See the end for some hints on procession-watching.

7.30PM, Basilica Pontifica San Miguel, calle San Justo 4. Metro La Latina. Two "pasos", Cristo de la Fe y Perdon (18th c)Maria Santisima Imaculada ("Los Estudiantes"). Route: Plaza Cordon,Calle Cordon, Plaza Villa, calle Señores Luzon, Plaza Santiago, Plaza Ramales, calle Lepanto, Plaza Oriente, calle Carlos III, calle Union, calle Conde de Lemos, Plaza de Santiago, calle Santiago, calle Milaneses, Plaza San Miguel, Plaza Conde Miranda, Plaza Conde Barajas, calle Gomez Mora, Puerta Cerrada, calle San Justo, return to church

7.30 PM, Plaza del Oriente, Via Crucis (Stations of the Cross)

9.45PM, Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Carmen y San Luis, calle Carmen 10. Metro Sol and Callao. "Pasos", Nuestro Padre Jesus de la Salud ("Los Gitanos"). Route: calle Salud, calle Carmen, Puerta del Sol, calle Correo, Plaza Marqués de Pontejos, calle Marquesa viuda de Pontejos, Plaza Santa Cruz, Plaza Provincias, calle Salvador, calle Lechuga, calle Imperial, calle Toledo, calle Latoneros, Plaza Puerta Cerrada – calle Cuchillero, Cava San Miguel, Plaza San Miguel, calle Mayor, calle Bordadores, calle Arenal, Puerta del Sol, calle Preciados, calle Pérez Galdós, calle Carmen, calle Salud, return to church.

7PM, Iglesia San Pedro, calle Nuncio 14. Metro La Latina. "Pasos"  Jesus Nazareno “El Pobre” (very famous “paso”) and Maria Santisima Dulce Nombre en su Soledad. Route: Calle Nuncio, Plaza Puerta Cerrada, Calle San Justo, calle Sacramento, Plaza Cordon, Plaza Villa, calle Mayor, calle Ciudad Rodrigo, Plaza Mayor, calle Toledo, calle Estudios, Plaza Cascorro, calle Ruda, calle Toledo, Plaza de la Cebada, Plaza Humilladero, Cava Baja, Plaza Puerta Cerrada, calle Nuncio, return to church.

8PM: Colegiata San Isidro, calle Toledo 37. Metro La Latina. "Pasos": Jesus del Gran Poder "paso" (very popular), Maria Santisima de la Esperanza Macarena. Route: calle Colegiata, calle Duque de Rivas, calle Concepción Jerónima, Plaza Puerta Cerrada, Palacio Arzobispal, calle Sacramento, Plaza de la Villa, calle Señores Luzon, Plaza Santiago, calle Santiago, calle Milaneses, Plaza San Miguel, calle Conde de Miranda,  Monasterio Corpus Christi, Plaza Conde Barajas, Cuchilleros, Plaza Puerta Cerrada, calle Toledo, return to church

7 PM: Iglesia Santisimo Cristo de la Fe, calle Atocha 87 bis. Metro Anton Martin.   Silent procession. "Pasos": Santisimo Cristo de la Fe (carried by men) and Nuestra Señora de Dolores (carried by women - this is quite unusual). Route: calle Atocha, plaza Anton Martin, Plaza Matute, calle Huertas, Plaza Sta Ana, Calle Principe, Plaza Matute, calle Huertas, calle Leon, calle Lope de Vega, costanilla Trinitarias (stop at Trinitarias church) - calle Huertas - calle Jesus - calle Moratin, Costanilla de los Desamparados, return to church.  Want to participate in a procession?  This church supplies full habit so you can accompany their "pasos", but you must arrange ahead of time. Contact details and more information: www.procesiondelsilenciomadrid.com

7 PM: Palacio Real - Puerta del Principe, calle Bailen s/n. Metro Opera and Plaza de España. "Paso": Santisimo Cristo de la Fe, Cristo de los Alabarderos (the Alabarderos are part of the guard corps for the monarchy) and Maria Imaculada de los Angeles. Route: calle Bailen, calle Mayor, calle Sacramento, calle Cordon, Plaza de la Villa, calle Mayor, calle Ciudad Rodrigo, Plaza Mayor, calle Sal, calle Postas, calle San Cristobal,  calle Mayor,  calle Milaneses, calle Santiago, Plaza Santiago, Plaza Ramales, calle San Nicolas, calle Mayor. entrance Armed Forces church on Mayor near Bailen

7 PM, Basilica de Nuestro Padre Jesus de Medinaceli, Plaza de Jesus, 2,  Metro Banco de España and Atocha. "Paso" Cristo de Medinaceli (very famous). Route: Plaza de Jesus, calle Duque de Medinaceli, Carrera San Jeronimo, Plaza Canovas del Castillo, Paseo del Prado, Plaza Cibeles, calle Alcala, Puerta del Sol, Carrera San Jeronimo, Plaza Canalejas, Calle S Sevilla, calle Alcala, Plaza Cibeles,  Paseo del Prado, Carrera San Jeronimo, calle Duque Medinaceli, return to church.

8.30 PM: Iglesia Santa Cruz, calle Atocha 6. Metro Sol. "Pasos": Cristo de la Vida Eterna, Nuestra Señora de la Paz. Route: calle Atocha, Plaza Jacinto Benavente, calle Carretas, Puerta del Sol, calle Mayor, calle Ciudad Rodrigo, Plaza Mayor calle Gerona, Plaza de la Provincia, return to church

8 AM, Basilica de Nuestro Padre Jesus de Medinaceli, Plaza de Jesus, 2,  Metro Banco de España and Atocha. "Paso" Virgin Dolorosa. Route: Plaza de Jesus, calle Cervantes, calle Leon, calle Prado, Plaza Santa Ana, calle Principe, calle Huertas, calle Leon, calld Lope de Vega, return to church.

4.30PM, Monasterio de Corpus Cristi ("Carboneras), Plaza Conde de Miranda 3. Metro Opera and Sol. "Paso": Nuestra Señora de la Soledad. Drumming procession.  Route: Drummers meet at 4.30 PM at the "Carboneras", then Plaza Conde de Miranda, calle Puñoenrostro, calle Sacramento, calle Cordon, Plaza de la Villa, calle Mayor, calle Bordadores. Meets rest of procession and continues:  Plazuela San Gines, Pasadizo San Ginés, calle Arenal, Plaza Opera, calle Vergara, Plaza Ramales, Plaza de Santiago, calle Santiago, calle Milaneses, calle Mayor, Puerta de Sol, calle Arenal, return to church

12.00 noon: Plaza Mayor. Metro Sol. "Tamborrada", drumming procession.   Route: Monasterio Corpus Christi (Carboneras), Conde de Miranda, calle Sacramento, calle Cordon, plaza de la Villa, calle Mayor, calle Cuidad Rodrigo, Plaza Mayor

Last year this time was the END of a procession, so if you can, try to arrive early and scout the area between the Plaza Mayor and the Plaza de la Villa. Seeing them come into the square on calle Ciudad Rodrigo is thrilling!

Tips to see the best:  Wherever you see Easter processions, keep in mind: 

“Pasos”: To help you decide what to see or know what to watch for, look at the information about the “pasos” in the procession information. It may include the number of “pasos” in each procession, the names of the “pasos”, their sculptor and date of creation (most of Madrid's are modern but in other cities some are hundreds of years old), something about local traditions or the popularity of a specific “paso”.

Special processions:  With the 2009 information in hand, look for the processions with some unusual feature: silent, by candlelight, barefoot “paso” bearers, women bearers, special robes or special traditions during a procession.

"Encuentros" Some of the best processions have an “Encuentro” (meeting) between two processions, with a greeting of some sort between the “pasos” – bearers can make them dance, sway or bow.  

Best moments: One of the most emotional moments of the processions is when the “pasos” leave their church at the start of a procession – and when they enter the church after the procession. There may be a church service coinciding with these times.

Procession routes: If you have time, try to find out the procession route beforehand, and walk it to see the best places to watch or take photos: steep or narrow streets, gates of the old city walls, overhanging balconies, by churches, places where the “Encuentros” take place are all good for photos. The italics above should help you pick good places in Madrid.  It may also be worthwhile to find the side streets that let you reach another procession route or escape crowds – these events can be VERY crowded so an escape route can come in handy. Keep this in mind if you plan to go with small children or people with reduced mobility.

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