Semana Santa (19 images)

Sevilla, Spain, Easter 2005.
The climax of this event is the "Madrugada" (early hours) on Good Friday. Seven processions leave the churches in different quarters of the city and each of them carries two "pasos" (platforms) bearing sculptures of the Virgin and Christ. Each procession is followed by up to 2500 costumed "Nazarenos" who wear tall capes and carry candles and crosses and march with hypnotic pace.