The week leading up to Easter is celebrated by Christians around the world to commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
In Spain, Holy Week, or Semana Santa, is the most important religious period of the year. Processions featuring hooded figures are held on the streets of almost every city.
Penitents of the San Gonzalo brotherhood take part in a Holy Week procession in the Andalusian capital of SevilleReuters
Each city has several religious brotherhoods, often back to the Middle Ages. The colours of the robes and hoods signify membership of the different brotherhoods.
Penitents from 'La Santisima Trinidad' brotherhood wait for the start of a procession at the Trinidad Chapel in Utrera, near SevilleGettyA woman walks between penitents of the "Santa Genoveva" brotherhood in SevilleReuters
Holy Week processions vary from region to region; those in the south are lively affairs accompanied by marching bands, while northern cities see more sombre parades.
The town of Zamora in the northwest of the country has probably the oldest celebrations in Spain. The earliest penance processions can be traced back to 1179. Here, members of the brotherhoods wear hooded monks' robes rather than the conical hats seen elsewhere.
A representation of the crucifixion is carried through Zamora by members of the "Cristo de la Buena Muerte" brotherhoodAFPPenitents from the "Cristo de la Buena Muerte" brotherhood take part in a procession in ZamoraAFPHooded penitents carry flaming torches in Zamora, northwestern SpainAFPPenitents from the "Cristo de la Buena Muerte" brotherhood take part in a procession during Holy Week in the northwestern Spanish city of ZamoraAFP
Processions start on Palm Sunday and continue until Easter Sunday, with the most solemn on Maundy Thursday.
In this gallery, IBTimesUK looks at Holy Week processions in several cities around Spain.
A hooded member of the "La Salle" brotherhood takes part in a Palm Sunday procession in Palma de MallorcaReutersA penitent carries a hooded baby during the "Los Cartujos" brotherhood's Palm Sunday procession in Palma de MallorcaReutersMembers of the "Sant Jeroni" brotherhood, wearing hessian robes, take part in a Palm Sunday procession in Palma de MallorcaReutersHooded penitents enter a church at the start of Holy Week in Palma de MallorcaReutersPenitents take part in the procession of "La Borriquita" brotherhood during Holy Week in CordobaReutersA penitent takes part in the procession of "La Vera-Cruz" brotherhood in CordobaReutersA penitent's gloves are covered in wax during the "La Sentencia" brotherhood's procession in CordobaReutersPenitents take part in the "Prendimiento" brotherhood's Palm Sunday procession in MalagaReutersPenitents from the "Humildad" brotherhood carry a statue of the Virgin during their Palm Sunday procession inside a church in MalagaReutersPenitents wait inside a church in Malaga before taking part in the "Humildad" brotherhood's Palm Sunday processionReutersHooded members of the "San Gonzalo" brotherhood are reflected in a car as they head to a church in SevilleReutersA penitent helps another with his hood as they head to church before taking part in the procession of the San Gonzalo brotherhood during Holy Week in Seville, southern SpainReutersA couple embrace during the "San Gonzalo" brotherhood's procession during Holy Week in the Andalusian capital of SevilleReutersHooded penitents from the "San Gonzalo" brotherhood look on as a couple embrace in SevilleReutersA member of the "La Cena" brotherhood holds a rosary during a procession in SevilleGettyA girl collects drops of wax from candles held by members of the "La Cena" brotherhood in SevilleGettyPenitents from the "El Museo" brotherhood walk to the church to take part in their procession in SevilleGettyMembers of the "San Gonzalo" brotherhood carry a statue of the Virgin during a procession in SevilleReuters
