Photo of the Steeple of Seville Cathedral Taken from our Hotel Terrace

Dear Commons Community,

After seventeen hours of travel by plane, train, and taxi, Elaine and I arrived at our hotel, The Dona Maria, in the heart of the old part of Seville, across from the Catedral de Santa María de la Sede, better known as Seville Cathedral. It is the largest Gothic cathedral and the third-largest church in the world. 

When we came out of the train station in Seville and asked the cab driver to take us to our hotel,  he said “Es imposible” and that there were too many processions going on in that área of the city.   With some pleading, he agreed to take us as close as possible.   

The processions commemorate Semana Santa (Holy Week) and are important devotions among the large Roman Catholic population in the city.  During this week there are about a dozen processions a day starting at 11:00 am.  Every church and parish in the city participates.  The processions generally have a band, a float(s), and marchers, many of whom are dressed in penitential robes and hoods. 

Quite a sight! 

Tony