Expat Family Easter 2023: Top Picks

Easter is a time for bonding with family and friends, enjoying the great outdoors, and being creative with fun activities. However, too many people get stuck on what to do over the Easter weekend. Some spend it at church, others have a boring hangover while others simply do nothing at all.

Here on the Costa del Sol, you can make Semana Santa (Holy Week) and Easter 2023 a time to remember. It is a great time for processions, celebrations, or even taking time to visit a natural park or the zoo, play sports or spend your day on the water. For Spanish culture, Malaga region hosts a series of Easter processions that are spectacular to see in person. We can’t list them all, so here are our Top Picks and suggestions to help you enjoy something different this Easter.

Processions

Malaga City

The most famous procession is “Cristo de Mena,” which always includes decorations and images of “Jesús El Cautivo”, “La Cofradía de la Esperanza” and the “Virgen de las Penas.” Of course, it’s Malaga city, so expect a very spectacular week of celebrations.

Alhaurín El Grande

Everyone should go at least once in their lifetime! At this festival, expect to see popular processions like that of “Our Father Jesus Nazarene” (also known as “Los Moraos”) and the “Brotherhood of Santa Vera Cruz” (“Los Greens”).

Fuengirola

For a taste of the Sevillian baroque tradition, there are religious processions of the “Brotherhood of Nazarenes of the Blessed Christ of Charity” and “Blessed Christ Yacente de la Paz”, to name a couple. Fuengirola puts on a great celebration of Holy Week and always organises a very complete programme that will include events prior to Holy Week leading up to the traditional processions and service celebrating the resurrection on Easter Sunday.

Marbella

Marbella is a must-see during Semana Santa and comes alive with religious processions of “Nazareno” and “La Soledad” to name a couple, plus also don’t forget San Pedro de Alcantara. With processions and festivals every day of Semana Santa it is a spectacular time of year, with different Brotherhoods displaying their commitment to their religious beliefs.

Ronda

Ronda was once overtaken by Catholic monarchs, and during Santa Semana, that past comes to life. 15 must-see processions, including “Señora Nuestra Señora de Loreto” on Easter Sunday. (This particular procession is carried out solely by women from the coast of Spain.) Ronda also hosts processions of “Vera Cruz,” “Ecce Homo” and “La Santo Entierro,” which aren’t to be missed.