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Date Published: 15/03/2023

ARCHIVED - Semana Santa processions of Jumilla highlighted by National Geographic

ARCHIVED ARTICLE -

The Easter Week traditions in Jumilla are among the oldest in Spain

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Semana Santa processions of Jumilla highlighted by National Geographic The Spanish edition of National Geographic magazine has highlighted the Semana Santa processions of Jumilla in an article entitled “Doce Pueblos donde la Semana Santa emociona” (12 towns where Semana Santa stirs the emotions), naming the municipality in the north of the Region of Murcia at number 1 in their list.

The article lists locations which are not major cities but where the Easter Week celebrations can rival the best-known in Spain, such as those of Sevilla, and names places all over Spain.

Among the factors which make Jumilla’s processions special is the longevity of the tradition, which goes back over 26 years, and the events of Semana Santa are among 26 throughout the country which have been awarded International Tourist Interest status (including those of Murcia, Cartagena and Lorca in the Region). Similarly, the quality of the sculptures paraded is noteworthy, including that of “Cristo Amarrado a la Columna”, created by Francisco Salzillo in 1756.

The overriding mood in the processions of Jumilla is one of solemnity, although sweets are distributed to children during the Wednesday, Thursday and Good Friday morning events. Then on Resurrection Sunday, after the morning procession, there is a “caramelada”: a joyful battle of sweets!

Also recommended are Jumilla castle, which stands majestically on the hilltop behind the town, and the spectacular countryside of the area, including the Sierras of Santa Ana and El Carche - and of course no visit would be complete without a visit to the local vineyards and wineries!

The National Geographic list is completed by Valverde de la Vera in Extremadura, Ferrol in the province of A Coruña, Jerez de los Caballeros (Badajoz), Medina de Rioseco (Valladolid), Medina del Campo (Valladolid), Tobarra (Albacete), Viveiro (Lugo), Crevillente (Alicante), Cabra (Córdoba), Astorga (León) and Ocaña (Toledo).

For more local news, events and visiting information go to the home page of Jumilla Today.

Address

Plaza del Rollo, 1 30520 JUMILLA

Tel: 968 780 237

Oficina de Turismo Jumilla

The tourist office in the centre of Jumilla is easily found by driving straight into the centre of the town along the Avenida de Murcia and following the signposts. The tourist office is alongside the Parque de Don Albano Martínez Molina, where there are a number of parking spaces.

Jumilla, in the north of the Region of Murcia, has become internationally famous over recent decades due to the quality of the wines produced in the municipality, and wine tourism has begun to attract visitors from other parts of Spain and the rest of Europe.

The tourist office is happy to provide a range of maps and leaflets showing the different bodegas which can be visited within the municipality. Some of these form part of the Rutas del Vino de Jumilla, the Jumilla wine route, and can either be visited as a guided tour or sell their produce directly to the public.(see feed below for more details)

However, the town and the surrounding countryside have plenty of other attractions for visitors, and the popularity of Jumilla wines is leading more and more people to discover other facets of the tenth largest municipality in Spain.

Jumilla Tourist Office

These include the spectacular countryside and birdlife in the Sierra del Carche, the historic remains which range from cave paintings and a Roman mausoleum to the castle, the Iglesia de Santiago, the Town Hall and the Teatro Vico, and the gastronomy: rich stews are accompanied not only by the wines of the area but also by Jumilla pears, which also enjoy Denomination of Origin status.

Tourism in Jumilla is not as seasonal as it is in the coastal areas of the Region of Murcia, but the town is at its liveliest during the fiestas in Holy Week and the August Fair, which incorporates the grape harvest celebrations and the Moors and Christians parades.

The Altiplano of the Region of Murcia, which consists of the municipalities of Jumilla and Yecla, is only just over an hour by car from the Mar Menor, Cartagena, Mazarrón, Torrevieja and Alicante, and anyone wishing to visit real inland Spain and world-class wineries is advised to include Jumilla in their schedule.