Easter in Majorca is about more than eating copious amounts of chocolate eggs. The religious festival is one of the island’s most important annual events and you can experience the unique atmosphere by visiting Majorca’s churches and joining in with the revelry.
- Easter break in Majorcamassdistraction / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND
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What can you expect to see at Easter?
Easter isn’t just a religious celebration to the people of Majorca – it’s also a hugely popular tradition. The island’s Easter celebrations begin on Palm Sunday, but they really kick into gear over the Easter weekend, when a series of major processions are held.
One of the most impressive of these parades is the Holy Burial. Pollenca is a great place to witness the event, which sees an image of the body of Jesus carried in a procession down the 365 stone steps that lead from the chapel at the top of a hill to the public square below. Following the figure of Jesus are hundreds of people wearing long pointed hoods. As well as Pollenca, the procession takes place in towns such as Arta and Felanitx and the monastery at Lluc, while the parade in Palma sees hundreds of people take to the streets.
Majorca’s Easter holy week comes to a climax on Easter Sunday, when the ‘procession of the meeting’ takes place, symbolising the first time Mary met the risen Christ. The most important mass of the year takes place in Palma in the evening, with the ceremony led by the Bishop of Majorca. The highlight of the event sees sacramental oils brought from Bunyola blessed with water, bread and wine.
While these are the biggest celebrations, other festivities take place throughout the week. Most villages across Majorca stage events on Easter Monday, when the locals eat traditional foods like panades (fried maize shells filled with fish or beans), robiols (a Majorcan pudding) and crespells (thin pancakes that are similar to crepes).
Churches to visit at Easter
For an authentic cultural experience, you’ll want to visit a few of Majorca’s churches and cathedrals at Easter:
• Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma
Arguably the most impressive is the Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma, an enormous Gothic-style building that stands close to the shore, within a ten-minute walk of many of the city’s hotels. Famous for its golden sandstone towers that loom high over the town, the cathedral began being built in the early 13th century, with construction only finishing in 1601.
Probably the most precious architectural attraction in the Balearic Islands, the Cathedral of Santa Maria is best viewed from the sea, or after dark when the illuminations make it look particularly spectacular.
• Santa Eulalia
Also located in the heart of Palma is the Santa Eulalia, which was built in the 13th century and can be found at the end of the Carrer Morey. Interestingly, it took only 25 years to complete construction of this church – quite a feat considering the age in which it was built. Santa Eulalia boasts many features of note, including a crucifix said to have been carried by Jaume I when he conquered the island in 1229.
• Basilica de Sant Francesc
Situated close to many of Palma’s hotels and youth hostels, the Basilica de Sant Francesc features a striking facade adorned with a Baroque-style portal and a rosette. It was badly damaged by lightning in the 17th century, but fortunately was remodelled shortly afterwards.
