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La Voz de Madrid

Madrid's Holy Week Solidifies as Cultural and Tourist Landmark with High Attendance

The capital concludes a successful edition, highlighting public participation, novelties like the Band Ensemble and the Lignum Crucis act, and a notable economic impact.

Generic image of a crowd in a square during a nighttime cultural event.
IA

Generic image of a crowd in a square during a nighttime cultural event.

Madrid's Holy Week has concluded for another year, solidifying its cultural and tourist appeal with a great public reception for all activities organized by the Madrid City Council, filling the capital's streets with tradition and devotion.

The processions of brotherhoods and sisterhoods filled the capital's streets, notably Puerta del Sol, which was adorned for the occasion with an open-access seating area of over 600 chairs to enjoy the processions along the Official Route. The saeta performances also drew large crowds, creating emotional moments thanks to the collaboration with the Association of Music Interpreters and Performers (AIE).
This edition introduced two well-received novelties. The 1st Processional Music Band Ensemble, which brought together 150 musicians from the Agrupación Musical Jesús el Pobre de Madrid and the Banda Sinfónica La Lira de Pozuelo, gathered a multitude in the Plaza Mayor the Sunday before Holy Week. The second novelty was the first act of veneration to the Lignum Crucis, a relic of Christ's cross, held in Puerta del Sol in front of the Real Casa de Correos, with the participation of four Good Friday penance stations.
The music cycles organized around the celebration were completely sold out. These included the XIX San Ginés Organ Music Cycle at the Church of San Ginés, with recitals by Mirjam Laetitia Haag, Saskia Roures, and Pilar Cabrera. Also prominent were the concerts Contemplación: música para el silencio by Eresma Guitar Duo at the Parish of Santa Cruz and the Royal Church of San Andrés Apóstol, and the choral symphonic music cycle in churches, featuring the Coro Villa de Las Rozas and the Coro Gaudeamus at the Pontifical Basilica of San Miguel.
The Easter Sunday drum parade, organized by the Royal and Illustrious Congregation of Our Lady of Solitude and Helplessness in collaboration with the Madrid City Council, marked the close of Madrid's Passion. This event once again gathered a large number of attendees in the Plaza Mayor, where the music of 85 drums, barrels, bass drums, and timpani from the Exaltación de la Santa Cruz de Zaragoza filled the center of Madrid.
The response from both Madrid residents and visitors was very positive, exceeding expectations. The Madrid Hotel Business Association reported an average occupancy of 78.13%, while EMT Madrid buses transported 8.3 million passengers, a 5% increase from the previous year. The Madrid City Council launched a promotional campaign in major Spanish cities to highlight this Madrid identity. The program was complemented by a photography exhibition showcasing the heritage, cultural, and religious value of Madrid's brotherhoods, and the gastronomic route Dulces Pasiones, offering everything from traditional torrijas to innovative versions.

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