I understand that during Holy Week, in many Spanish cities, Catholic church groups have parades carrying statues through the town. Is this called Semana Santa? We will be near Malaga that week. Which is the best town to visit to enjoy the festivities?

Semana Santa (Holy Week) is the week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. 'Parades,' as you call them are Processions with religious themes: hooded Nazarenos emulating Christ's 'via crucis' barefoot or wearing sandals and carrying crosses along the route of the Procession. They can be quite emotional, especially when the statue of la Virgen de la Macarena stops so that a gypsy 'Cantaor' can sing to la Virgen. And when the float passes by and someone chants: Macarena, everyone must answer aloud: Guapa!There are competitions for honors and prizes among Nazareno groups each year in Sevilla. Sevilla is famous for its many Processions (more than 12 just on Friday) but it's a long trip from Malaga. You should be able to see some of them from your hotel (condo) on TVE.

You should be able to find one or more Processions in Malaga or in one of the smaller towns Thursday or Friday.

[This message has been edited by Eddie (edited 03-23-2001).]

You describe it well, Eddie, but no need for watching on TV in Malaga. There are many processions every day, with some thrones weighing 6 tons, needing hundreds of men to carry them for 8 hours or more through the city streets. Very emotional and awesome. Has to be seen. Try here for a bit more info
http://www.altur.com/eng/pmalaga/malaga/holy.shtml

There are dozens of processions in Malaga, it goes on all week, and all through the night, every night! The crowds in the centre can be quite suffocating, and getting in and out can take some time when the major processions are passing through the center.

A small town west of Malaga is Arroyo de la Miel. You could take a bus there to see their religious processions. Surely Malaga will keep your interest!

One year we TRIED to go from Torremolinos to Malaga on Good Friday. The problem was the congestion on the roads. The public buses were simply not moving into Malaga. So, we went in the opposite direction to Arroyo de la Miel.

I understand there is also a train that connects Torremolinos and Malaga, but I don't know the details.