Saturday 11 April 2009

The Via Crucis of la Geltrú

Last year our family was in Zaragoza on Good Friday and, therefore, had the opportunity to see a splendid passion procession. Let us be very honest – if you are here as a visitor and this is what you want to experience, you had better avoid Catalonia. With the exception of the Dance of Death of Verges (our sons are much to small for a ceremony as scary as this one), Easter celebrations here have very little of the flavour and emotions which you find in the Spanish heartlands.



Having said that, even the smallest ones of Catalan towns organize viacrucis processions which tell the suffering of Jesus during the fourteen stations of the cross. And - at least when compared to my native Sweden - the level of participation in these religious rites is quite impressive. In Vilanova, the main procession goes from the Santa Maria church of la Geltrú, via the Sant John the Baptist church in the newer parts of the centre and finishes at the main church, Sant Antoni Abat.

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Technorati tags: Catalonia, Garraf, Penedès, Spain, Vilanova

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