When spring settles over Mallorca and the almond blossom has faded into memory, the streets of Palma begin preparing for something that goes beyond religion. Holy Week in Palma de Mallorca is one of those times of year when the entire city shifts its rhythm, its light and its atmosphere.
Processions wind through the old town with a solemnity shaped by centuries of tradition, while the smell of panades and rubiols drifts from kitchen windows. You don’t need to be religious to sense that something remarkable is happening in those narrow streets as evening falls and silence takes over.
The Holy Week processions in Palma: a centuries-old tradition
Holy Week in Palma features 11 processions that make their way through the historic centre from the Friday of Sorrows to Easter Sunday. They involve 34 confraternities, around 4,000 members and more than 45 floats carried through the cobbled streets of the city.
Each procession has its own character. Some are solemn and silent, accompanied only by the roll of drums. Others feature bands playing sacred music and hundreds of candles casting light across the facades of historic buildings.
Most processions follow a shared route through the old town’s most iconic spots: Sant Miquel street, the Plaza Mayor, Colom street, the Plaza de Cort and the Palau Reial, before arriving at the Cathedral of Mallorca.
If you’re looking for a good vantage point, the Plaza de Cort and the final stretch beside the Cathedral offer the most striking views, with the Seu lit up as a backdrop. It’s worth arriving early, as the best spots fill up fast.
The Sant Crist de la Sang: the most anticipated moment
The Holy Thursday procession is, without question, the most moving and best-attended of the entire Holy Week in Palma. The figure of the Sant Crist de la Sang leaves the Church of l’Anunciació at 7:00 pm and makes its way through the old town in a silence broken only by drums and saetas.
The Confraternity of the Blood has been the custodian of this figure since 1564. For centuries, the procession would pass through Palma’s convents so that the cloistered nuns could venerate the statue through their lattice screens, a custom that gave the parade an intimate and deeply devotional quality.
Every confraternity in the city takes part in this procession, and the parade can last over three hours. Thousands of people line the route. The atmosphere of reverence that fills the streets as the floats pass by is something that words can barely capture. You really have to be there to understand it.
The confraternities of Palma: six centuries of living history
Palma is home to 34 confraternities, some dating back to the Middle Ages. Far from being relics of the past, these groups keep alive a tradition that connects the city with its deepest roots.
The oldest is Sant Pere i Sant Bernat, founded in 1370. Its statutes were not formally approved until 1431, before a notary, and it has historically been linked to the Cathedral of Mallorca. Its original purpose was to provide shelter for the poorest members of the local clergy.
Some confraternities have surprising origins. Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza y de la Paz was founded in 1924 in a barber’s shop in Palma, when Bartolomé Crespí Cladera suggested to three friends that they start a new brotherhood. More than a century later, it still processes every Holy Thursday in green tunics and white capes.
Each confraternity wears its own distinctive combination of tunic and pointed hood, and many preserve floats carved by Mallorcan artists that are genuine works of sacred art. Simply watching the variety of robes and banners during the processions is, in itself, a journey through Palma’s history.
Holy Week food: the flavours of a Mallorcan Easter
Holy Week in Mallorca is not just about the processions. Traditional cooking takes centre stage during this period, and most families get together to prepare recipes that have been handed down through the generations.
The panades are the undisputed stars of the Easter table. They are made with unleavened dough and filled with lamb, pork or peas, then baked until the crust turns golden and crisp. Every family has its own recipe, and defending it is practically a point of honour.
Rubiols are half-moon pastries made with fine dough and filled with brossat (a Mallorcan fresh cheese similar to ricotta), pumpkin jam or apricot preserve. And crespells are sweet biscuits pressed into moulds shaped like stars, flowers and animals. This is the recipe where children usually take the lead, choosing shapes and decorating each piece.
It’s not uncommon for the aroma of these bakes to fill the stairwells of old town buildings throughout the entire week. The frit de Pasqua, a hearty stew of lamb, potatoes, peas and fennel, traditionally marks the end of Lent and the start of the celebration.
What to do in Mallorca at Easter beyond Palma
Spring is one of the best times to explore the island. The temperatures are mild, the light brings out the best in every landscape, and visitor numbers haven’t yet reached summer levels. If you’re in Mallorca over Easter, there’s much more to discover beyond the processions in the capital.
Towns with a character of their own
Places like Pollença, Sineu and Alcúdia hold their own processions with a more intimate, local feel. In Pollença, the Davallament on Good Friday is a re-enactment of the Descent from the Cross performed on the steps of the Calvary, and it draws visitors from across the island.
It’s also the perfect time to explore the best areas of Mallorca and plan routes that combine nature, culture and food without the summer crowds.
And if after experiencing Holy Week above ground you’d like to discover what the island hides beneath the surface, the Cuevas dels Hams in Porto Cristo offer an underground tour through millions of years of geological history. The classical music performance on the subterranean lake known as the Sea of Venice is the perfect way to round off a day exploring the most authentic side of Mallorca.
Frequently asked questions about Holy Week in Palma de Mallorca
When is Holy Week 2026 in Palma de Mallorca?
Holy Week 2026 in Palma de Mallorca runs from 29 March to 5 April. The main processions take place between the Friday of Sorrows and Easter Sunday, with Holy Thursday as the highlight. The dates change each year according to the liturgical calendar, so it’s worth checking the latest programme before planning your trip.
Which is the most important Holy Week procession in Palma?
The procession of the Sant Crist de la Sang on Holy Thursday is the most iconic and best-attended. It leaves at 7:00 pm from the Church of l’Anunciació and winds through the old town to the Cathedral. All of the city’s confraternities take part, and the parade can last over three hours. Arriving early is strongly recommended to secure a good viewing spot.
What traditional food is eaten during Easter in Mallorca?
The three essentials are panades (savoury pies filled with lamb or pork), robiols (sweet pastries filled with fresh cheese or pumpkin jam) and crespells (decorative biscuits). The frit de Pasqua, a hearty stew that marks the end of Lent, is also a highlight. Most bakeries and Mallorcan households prepare them throughout the week.
Where are the best places to watch the Holy Week processions in Palma?
The best spots are the Plaza de Cort, Colom street, the Plaza Mayor and the final stretch beside the Cathedral of Mallorca. The area around the Seu is particularly impressive after dark, when the cathedral is illuminated. The most central streets fill up quickly, so it’s best to arrive at least half an hour before the procession begins.