The parade, featuring thirteen brotherhoods and about twenty floats, was experienced in an atmosphere of devotion, faith, and solemnity. The silence of Tarragona's Old Town streets was broken only by the rhythmic sound of drums, accompanying the confreres on their route.
In recent years, the collection of the floats by the brotherhoods and guilds has gained significant popularity. This preliminary act to the main procession, which began at four in the afternoon on Good Friday, has seen an increasing number of people gather at Plaça del Rei in Tarragona, the starting point of the parade, to witness the armed guards carrying the mysteries.
“"It's a more family-friendly schedule, you can see all the floats with small children, it's a much more dynamic event, and you can move around the city to see all the floats from four to six in the afternoon."
One of the most emblematic points of the route is Baixada de la Pescateria street, where the mysteries ascend rapidly, offering an exciting spectacle for attendees. The co-president of the Association highlighted that this section, which in the nocturnal procession would require waiting until midnight, can be fully enjoyed in the afternoon, allowing appreciation of the bearers' effort.
The procession began after half past seven in the evening, with the characteristic sound of drums and the armed guards' spears, followed by the penitents of the thirteen brotherhoods, who maintain a strict traditional order. More than 2,000 people, according to the Association, participate in this ceremony, carrying the floats that represent episodes of the passion and death of Jesus Christ.
“"We experience Good Friday with great intensity, it is the most multitudinous act of Holy Week in Tarragona, moreover, organizationally it is the one that involves the most preparation."
Moreno emphasized that Tarragona's Holy Week extends beyond Good Friday, with numerous processions, Stations of the Cross, and various events celebrated during the two preceding weeks. As a novelty this year, a space has been set up for people with reduced mobility in front of Tarragona City Hall, and a silent section, between Plaça de la Font and Compte de Rius street, for people with acoustic sensitivity.
Moments such as the start at Plaça del Rei, the passage in front of the Archbishop's Palace, or the ascent through Escrivanies Velles, a narrow street requiring special coordination from the bearers, are some of the highlights of this procession, which extends well into the early morning. The Holy Burial Procession, first documented in 1550, is one of the most crowded in Catalonia, attracting thousands of people, including tourists, who observe it with respect and silence.
