Palm Sunday in Estepona - Borriquita Domingo de Ramos © Michelle Chaplow |
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Palm Sunday procession in Estepona - Borriquita
Guide to Holy Week / Semana Santa in Estepona
Guide to Holy Week / Semana Santa in Andalucia
As spring unfolds in Andalucía, the scent of orange blossom mixes with incense in the lively streets. Pam Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, when towns and cities come alive with energy, tradition, and devotion. Families gather as processions wind through narrow streets, led by music, drums, and the slow, powerful movement of thrones carried on the shoulders of costaleros. Palm Sunday in Andalucía is not just observed — it's experienced.
The Semana Santa (Holy Week) Procession Palm Sunday is the first of six different days during Semana Santa in Estepona that have processions. The popular name for the Palm Sunday procession is the Borriquita.
The brotherhoods taking part is the Hermandad de Nazarenos de la Triunfal Entrada en Jerusalén, Nuestra Señora de la Paz, Santísimo Cristo del Amor, Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza y María Inmaculada. Their short name is Cristo del Amor. This brotherhood was founded in 1982 by a Sevellano who moved to Estepona.
 Palm Sunday fills the streets with incense and tradition—immersive traditions © Michelle Chaplow |
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procession with two floats
This is a procession with two floats namely the ‘Triumphal entrance into Jerusalem’ and ‘Nuestra Senora de la Paz’.
The first float called the Triumphal entry into Jerusalem is more important and marks the start of Semana Santa. The triumphal entry into Jerusalem is the narrative in the four Gospels (Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-44 and John 12:12-19) that describes Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem a few days before his crucifixion.
Jesus was on a journey to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. As he approached Jerusalem with his disciples, he sent two of them ahead to find a donkey so that he could enter the city on a donkey. This act symbolised humility and peace, in contrast to the image of a conquering king riding a war horse. But the arrival of Messiah on a donkey also fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy of Zechariah 9:9. The people spread their cloaks on the road before him, and others cut palm branches and laid them in his path as a sign of honour and welcome, similar to how royalty is greeted. They shouted praises: "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" (Matthew 21:9). They recognised Jesus as the Messiah. But their understanding of his kingship was largely political and nationalistic, expecting a Messiah who would free them from Roman rule. They didn't understand his spiritual mission.
 Palm Sunday in Estepona © Michelle Chaplow |
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The second float is called 'Nuestra Senora de la Paz' (Our Lady of Peace), one of the many Roman Catholic titles for the Blessed Virgin Mary. As explained in Semana Santa (Holy Week) processions, it is traditional for the first float to represent Jesus and the second float to represent Mary.
Route and times
The procession traditionally leaves at 17.00 and returning at about 21.30.
The route was modified in 2025 for the construction works at Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Carmen.
The itinerary is Casa Hermanidad on Pasaje Cristo del Amor (near Orchid House), calle Hermanos Costaleros, calle Terraza, calle Jesús Cautivo, calle Granada, calle Calvario, calle Jesús y María, calle Montañés, calle Casares, calle Ramón y Cajal, Plaza Francisco Umbral, calle Jesús Nazareno, calle San Juan, calle Pozo Pila, calle Caravaca, Plaza Augusto Suárez de Figueroa, calle Viento, calle Real, calle Terraza, calle Hermanos Costaleros, Pasaje Cristo del Amor and return to Casa Hermanidad.
The itinerary is traditionally from Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Carmen, Plaza Padre Fernando, Calle Navarro Mollor, Avenida Carlos Cano, Avd. Padre Cura, Calle África, Avenida San Lorenzo, Calle Real, Calle Terraza, Official Tribune Grandstand at 20.30hrs, Calle Terraza, Pasaje Cristo del Amor and Casa Hermandad (21:30 hrs).
 Two costaleros pause in quiet reflection © Michelle Chaplow |
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Semana Santa Procession Schedule PDF Asociacion do Agrupación de Hermandades de Estepona
Guide to Holy Week / Semana Santa in Estepona
Guide to Holy Week / Semana Santa in Andalucia
 A Semana Santa throne moves through the narrow streets, carried by costaleros beneath its weight; silver engravings gleam beside fresh flowers adorning its base, while Nazarenos in satin robes walk in solemn procession © Michelle Chaplow |
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