🗓️ Last reviewed: October 2026
Holy Week in Ontinyent has been celebrated in the streets since the 15th century, with eleven brotherhoods and two statues by the sculptor Mariano Benlliure. This guide will help you plan for 2027.
2027 dates
In 2027 Holy Week falls at the end of March:
- Palm Sunday: 21 March.
- Maundy Thursday: 25 March.
- Good Friday: 26 March.
- Holy Saturday: 27 March.
- Easter Sunday: 28 March.
Main events and times
The times below are from 2026 and are usually repeated each year. The brotherhoods publish the official 2027 programme a few weeks beforehand, and we'll add it to the events calendar as soon as it's out.
- Palm Sunday: blessing of the palms at 11:00 in Plaça Major and, in the evening (20:00), the Way of the Cross.
- Maundy Thursday, at midnight: the Procession of Silence. It leaves Plaça de Sant Roc and winds through the Vila old town in darkness, lit only by torches, to the sound of chains and muffled drums. It's the most moving event: arrive early and keep silent.
- Good Friday:
- From 10:00, the morning processions.
- At 12:00, the Sorrowful Meeting (Encontre Dolorós) in Plaça Major, between the statues of Jesus and the Virgin.
- At 19:00, the Holy Burial (Sant Soterrament), the biggest procession and the only one in which all the statues take part.
- Holy Saturday: in the morning, the Office of Tenebrae in Santa Maria church. At midnight, the Nit dels Panderos: after burning the Velles Quaresmes (Lent effigies), children drag tins and scrap metal through the Vila amid drums, whistles and rattles, singing "Ratetes, ratetes…".
- Easter Sunday, at 12:00: the Glorious Meeting between the Risen Christ and the Virgin of Hope, in Plaça Major.
Where to watch
- The Procession of Silence is best seen in the narrow streets of the Vila, where the darkness is most striking.
- The Sorrowful and Glorious Meetings take place in Plaça Major: arrive early for a good spot.
- The Holy Burial goes through the town centre: anywhere on the route works, but wider streets have more room.
Easter: the mona
After Holy Week comes Easter, with the traditional mona de Pascua, a sweet Easter bread eaten with chocolate or sausage. In the Valencia region Easter Monday is usually a public holiday, making it a good long weekend to stay on.
Practical tips
- Bring a warm layer at night: late-March nights are still cool. Check the weather.
- Park outside the centre on the main days: Parking in Ontinyent.
- Respect the silence and don't use flash during the Procession of Silence.
Sources: Ontinyent Holy Week brotherhoods' website (2026 programme) and Turisme Ontinyent.
