March 28 Semana Santa procession in Cabo de Palos

The annual seafaring Holy Week procession in Cabo de Palos on Maundy Thursday

The Semana Santa celebrations in Cabo de Palos are far more limited than in larger towns and cities in the Region of Murcia, as is to be expected, but the highlight is a procession on Maundy Thursday which is popular among both residents and those visiting the Costa Cálida for their Easter holidays.

This is the only parade in the village, which lies within the municipality of Cartagena, but in Cartagena itself there is a major programme of Semana Santa processions which have been awarded International Tourist Interest status.

March 28, Jueves Santo (Maundy Thursday)

20.30: Procession of the Cristo de los Pescadores, the Christ of Fishermen. A seafaring procession, full of symbolism of the sea and those who sail on it. For example, the procession is accompanied by the sound of people blowing on conch and other seashells, and unusually, the members of the fishermen’s guild dress not as Nazarenes but in the typical “uniform” of their trade, wearing yellow rain-cheaters and wellington boots.

The other participants wear blue and yellow (the Tercio de la Virgen Dolorosa, symbolizing the sun and the sea), black and red (the Tercio del Cristo de los Pesdacores) or beige and dark red (the Tercio de Jesús Nazareno).

Route: Iglesia Santa Maria del Mar, Paseo Dimas Ortega López, Paseo del Puerto, Aurelio Méndez, Sirio, Subida al Faro, Travesía Marín, Paseo de la Barra, Miguel Salas. The figure of Jesus then meets that of the Santísima Virgen Dolorosa before entering the local fish market.

Apart from the Cristo de los Pescadores, the other sculpted figures carried through the streets are those of San Pedro, Jesús Nazareno and the Virgen Dolorosa, and when the procession ends the carriers of the tableaux sing the Salve Cartagenera hymn.

On March 29 and 30 the tableaux carried through the streets in procession are on display at the fishermen’s quay in the harbour between 10.00 and 14.00 and from 17.00 to 21.00.

For more upcoming events in the Costa Cálida go to the What’s on section of Murcia Today.