Easter week in Malaga

Málaga’s Holy Week is renowned for its magnificent processional floats and deeply rooted traditions. One of its most unusual customs is the release of a prisoner, a practice dating back to the reign of Charles III. According to tradition, when Holy Week processions were suspended due to an epidemic, prisoners in Málaga’s jail rebelled in protest and carried an image of Jesus the Nazarene out of the prison on their shoulders. After returning the image to its church, they all went back to their cells. When news reached the king, he granted the image—later known as “Jesús el Rico”—the privilege of pardoning a prisoner every year.

The procession takes place on Holy Wednesday, and the traditional pardon ceremony is one of the most remarkable moments of the celebration. At around 8:30 pm, near Plaza de la Aduana, the official release decree is read aloud to the prisoner. Kneeling before the statue, the pardoned individual receives a blessing from Jesús el Rico, whose image has an articulated arm. The newly freed prisoner then joins the procession through the streets of Málaga.

Holy Week is one of the city’s most spectacular and emotional celebrations. Faith, art, vibrant colours and music come together in processions commemorating the death of Jesus Christ. Members of the various religious brotherhoods, dressed in their traditional robes, carry religious images known as pasos through the streets, accompanied by drums and solemn music to create an unforgettable atmosphere.