For the week of Semana Santa, we get classes off because the streets become flooded with people, bands and large structures being carried throughout the city.
For this week, my friends and I are traveling through Italy, but we were able to see one day, Domingo de Ramas, the very first day of celebrations. You can pick up a booklet that has information about the different processions and where they are going when. My friends and I found two that were happening around the same time in the center of the city in front of the cathedral where every procession walks by.
I don't think I've ever seen more people waking around the streets of Sevilla! People walked in masses towards the cathedral dressed in their best outfits. Following the crowds led us to a spot right around the corner from the cathedral where there was a pathway paved in between the people to let the processions walk through.
These things were massive! It was like the a 4th of July parade on steroids. Their "floats" were large structures they spend all year preparing. And there aren't cars to carry them. People stand underneath and carry these massive structures around town, sometimes for 12 hours! Following the massive structure was a band and there were constantly people in robes keeping the crowd back.
It was impressive to say the least. In 80 degree weather, these people were carrying heavy structures and wearing robes head to toe. I can only imagine how much hotter it was for those who have to be in the procession. But my host mom told me when there is rain, they can't do the processions which makes those who participate very sad, so I suppose being out, even if it is super hot is better than not being out at all!
The next day, we headed off to Rome for jam packed days of sightseeing. In total, we walked about 15 miles in our day and a half there. We saw everything: the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Vatican City (St. Peter's Basillica Basilica, Sistine Chapel, and Vatican Museum), the Trevi Fountain (which was sadly under construction but was still pretty cool), and the Partheno Parthenon. We covered a lot of ground and a lot of sights! I'll go into more detail in a later post, but as I'm sitting on the train going to Florence, I think I’ve thought of a few things that might be handy for people visiting soon:
-Don't forget your camera memory card. for your camera. Which I did because I was uploading photos from Semana Santa. Luckily, I realized this just as we passed an electronics store and could pick one up quickly and not for not that much money, but I felt so silly forgetting something so basic!
-Though it will cost you a little more, getting a tour of the Vatican is better. We didn't think too much about it until we got there, but you have to wait in 3 lines to see all the parts of the Vatican City. Since we came at the end of the day, we definitely didn't have time, but ended up getting better deals for the guides tours. We paid 30 euro for about an hour and a half tour cutting right through the lines and leaning more than we would have (our tour guide was so funny, we ended up laughing the whole time).
-Just because you buy a "skip the line" ticket ahead of time doesn't mean you necessarily go strait to the front. You just skip the hassle hassle of buying a ticket at the gate, which was super helpful at the Colosseum because the ticket line was crazy! But, make sure to budget enough time for waiting in some sort of line.
-Buying tickets ahead helped us save money and time. To see the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, we only paid 14 euro and got to see amazing views and ruins. I wish I could have spent all day hanging out and exploring that area!
-Break out the comfy (but stylish) shoes because you are going to be walking. By the end of our last day in Rome (our only full day, so we packed a lot in), our feet were so tired! Even though we took a cab from the Colosseum to the Vatican to get there in time (7 euro for that cab for 3 people, what???? So cheap!!) I still wish I had worn my super comfy sandals instead of booties (plus, it turned out to be a hot gorgeous day for us, luckily!). You want to look nice but be comfy, so try to keep that in mind.
Overall, if you can budget more than a day and a half in Rome, I would say do it. I'm excited to see one of my best friend from school in Florence, but Rome was beautiful, and so fun and definitely a city I'd want to get lost in again.
For this week, my friends and I are traveling through Italy, but we were able to see one day, Domingo de Ramas, the very first day of celebrations. You can pick up a booklet that has information about the different processions and where they are going when. My friends and I found two that were happening around the same time in the center of the city in front of the cathedral where every procession walks by.
I don't think I've ever seen more people waking around the streets of Sevilla! People walked in masses towards the cathedral dressed in their best outfits. Following the crowds led us to a spot right around the corner from the cathedral where there was a pathway paved in between the people to let the processions walk through.
These things were massive! It was like the a 4th of July parade on steroids. Their "floats" were large structures they spend all year preparing. And there aren't cars to carry them. People stand underneath and carry these massive structures around town, sometimes for 12 hours! Following the massive structure was a band and there were constantly people in robes keeping the crowd back.
It was impressive to say the least. In 80 degree weather, these people were carrying heavy structures and wearing robes head to toe. I can only imagine how much hotter it was for those who have to be in the procession. But my host mom told me when there is rain, they can't do the processions which makes those who participate very sad, so I suppose being out, even if it is super hot is better than not being out at all!
The next day, we headed off to Rome for jam packed days of sightseeing. In total, we walked about 15 miles in our day and a half there. We saw everything: the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Vatican City (St. Peter's Basillica Basilica, Sistine Chapel, and Vatican Museum), the Trevi Fountain (which was sadly under construction but was still pretty cool), and the Partheno Parthenon. We covered a lot of ground and a lot of sights! I'll go into more detail in a later post, but as I'm sitting on the train going to Florence, I think I’ve thought of a few things that might be handy for people visiting soon:
-Don't forget your camera memory card. for your camera. Which I did because I was uploading photos from Semana Santa. Luckily, I realized this just as we passed an electronics store and could pick one up quickly and not for not that much money, but I felt so silly forgetting something so basic!
-Though it will cost you a little more, getting a tour of the Vatican is better. We didn't think too much about it until we got there, but you have to wait in 3 lines to see all the parts of the Vatican City. Since we came at the end of the day, we definitely didn't have time, but ended up getting better deals for the guides tours. We paid 30 euro for about an hour and a half tour cutting right through the lines and leaning more than we would have (our tour guide was so funny, we ended up laughing the whole time).
-Just because you buy a "skip the line" ticket ahead of time doesn't mean you necessarily go strait to the front. You just skip the hassle hassle of buying a ticket at the gate, which was super helpful at the Colosseum because the ticket line was crazy! But, make sure to budget enough time for waiting in some sort of line.
-Buying tickets ahead helped us save money and time. To see the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, we only paid 14 euro and got to see amazing views and ruins. I wish I could have spent all day hanging out and exploring that area!
-Break out the comfy (but stylish) shoes because you are going to be walking. By the end of our last day in Rome (our only full day, so we packed a lot in), our feet were so tired! Even though we took a cab from the Colosseum to the Vatican to get there in time (7 euro for that cab for 3 people, what???? So cheap!!) I still wish I had worn my super comfy sandals instead of booties (plus, it turned out to be a hot gorgeous day for us, luckily!). You want to look nice but be comfy, so try to keep that in mind.
Overall, if you can budget more than a day and a half in Rome, I would say do it. I'm excited to see one of my best friend from school in Florence, but Rome was beautiful, and so fun and definitely a city I'd want to get lost in again.