Holy Week - "Semana Santa" in the city of Antigua (Guatemala) is one of the world's most spectacular religious celebrations. It is recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage.
This celebration is a sensory experience with streets filled with incense, aromatic corozo palms, and funeral marches. Entire streets are covered with colorful handmade carpets made from dyed sawdust, flowers, fruits, and intricate designs. They are ephemeral—the processions walk right over them.
Massive processions with enormous floats (called andas) wind through the city streets, carried by hundreds of people reenacting scenes from the Passion of Christ. All of this creates a unique and profoundly moving atmosphere due to the religious fervor, the scent of incense, the solemn marching bands, and the rhythmic footsteps.
The celebration dates back to the 16th century during the colonial period.
Extended info about Holy Week in Antigua PDF
