Easter week in Urrea de Gaén

Urrea de Gaén, in the province of Teruel, is one of the nine villages that form part of Aragón’s Route of the Drum and Bass Drum.

Throughout Holy Week, the powerful rhythms of drums and bass drums fill the streets of these towns in southern Aragón. In Urrea de Gaén, the highlight is the Rompida de la Hora, held at midnight between Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Hundreds of drummers gather and, as the clock strikes midnight, begin playing in unison, filling the night with a thunderous sound. The instruments continue to resound until Saturday afternoon.

On Good Friday at 11 a.m., the Bajada de las Imágenes procession makes its way through the village streets. The main event, however, takes place after nightfall: the Santo Entierro (Holy Burial) procession. As it winds through the narrow streets, the sorrow of Christ’s death blends with the powerful, continuous beat of drums and bass drums, creating a deeply moving atmosphere.

Holy Week is one of Spain’s most deeply rooted religious celebrations, shaped by centuries of history and tradition. It commemorates the Passion and death of Jesus Christ. During these days, streets across towns and cities become places of faith and devotion, where solemn reflection and mourning blend with music, art, colour and the evocative atmosphere of religious processions, as crowds accompany sacred images through the streets.