VdlP Easter Week '22

[Kev&Kath]

My wife and I plan to walk the VdlP, starting in Seville, during the latter part of Semana Santa '22 (19 Apr 22). Appreciating the crowds that will likely be in Seville during the Easter period I'd appreciate hearing from anyone that actually started their pilgrimage at this time of year. Particularly, I'm interested in knowing (a) whether it's preferable to pre-order the Credential, and (b) if obtaining a Cello from the Cathedral (over the Easter weekend) is even possible?

Thanks for all your help!

Kev

 

[Deleted member 73526]

• Accommodation - Book ahead, since hotels and hostels fill up in Semana santa.
• Credencial - Why not order it in advance from this site? It's one less thing to think about when you arrive.
• Sello - Should be possible. My experience has been that you can usually catch someone who will stamp your credential immediately after a mass. If you show up and there's a line of people at the cathedral, speak to a guard who should direct you to the office where you can get a stamp. You can also pre-book a tour of the cathedral during the high demand holy week opening times. Check out the previous thread about getting a stamp at the cathedral, which has some comments about holy week:
  
  https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/getting-a-stamp-in-sevilla.61166/
• Cello - On a pilgrimage? Made me of the marching band in "Take The Money And Run"

 

[trecile]

As @Raggy saud you can order a credential from Ivar's store here on the forum, or as I see that you are Georgia (in the US) you can order one from American Pilgrims on the Camino.

Request a Credential - American Pilgrims on the Camino

americanpilgrims.org

You should also check and see if there is a local chapter near you. (probably the closest is in Atlanta)

Local Chapters - American Pilgrims on the Camino

If you are seeking information about COVID-19 or the situation in Spain, please see the COVID-19: What You Should Know page. Our local chapter coordinators continue to consult state and local public health authorities for current guidance and recommended COVID-19 precautions in their area...

americanpilgrims.org

 

[Kev&Kath]

• Accommodation - Book ahead, since hotels and hostels fill up in Semana santa.
• Credencial - Why not order it in advance from this site? It's one less thing to think about when you arrive.
• Sello - Should be possible. My experience has been that you can usually catch someone who will stamp your credential immediately after a mass. If you show up and there's a line of people at the cathedral, speak to a guard who should direct you to the office where you can get a stamp. You can also pre-book a tour of the cathedral during the high demand holy week opening times. Check out the previous thread about getting a stamp at the cathedral, which has some comments about holy week:
  
  https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/getting-a-stamp-in-sevilla.61166/
• Cello - On a pilgrimage? Made me of the marching band in "Take The Money And Run"

Thanks Raggy. I took your advice and ordered a couple of credentials from Ivar (there was a guide I wanted anyway). So that part of the question is sorted. We'll definitely be visiting the cathedral over the Easter period so, hopefully, we can snare a stamp then. Just not sure if it's 'business as usual' at the cathedral. We'll sort it though. Thanks again.

 

[annandkerith]

Hello from Australia Kev and Kath. I walked from Seville to Zamora in 2010 and then Zamora to Santiago in 2019. Yes, book accommodation in Seville, altho' with Covid restrictions the crowds may be less. No trouble getting a sello from the cathedral altho' we got ours on Easter Sat. We loved the celebrations in the streets - they were very moving, altho we were happy to walk out on Easter Day - that tinny little trumpet tune really gets to you when it's almost 24/7. We stayed in a hostel in Seville booked therough hostelbookers.com. It's a lovley time of the year for this route - lots of wildflowers and that beautiful cistus smelling of incense.
Buen Camino!

 

[camino07]

I have twice walked from Seville a couple of days after Easter and hope to repeat next year. Excellent time of year to start. I like to stay at Hotel Simon, very pilgrim friendly and also can provide credencials and the Amigos guide book. You would need to book far in advance at Hotel Simon as its very popular.

 

[Canche]

I just picked up free credenciales at churches and sometimes albergues. Never bought one

 

[Kev&Kath]

I have twice walked from Seville a couple of days after Easter and hope to repeat next year. Excellent time of year to start. I like to stay at Hotel Simon, very pilgrim friendly and also can provide credencials and the Amigos guide book. You would need to book far in advance at Hotel Simon as its very popular.

Dinah...thanks! Yes I've already noticed the spike in hotel prices in Seville over the Easter period.

 

[hecate105]

We cycled from Cadiz up the VdlP a few years ago - during Holy Week. It was a wonderful time to do so - as every village and town along the way has their own celebrations and processions - we saw these all along the route - including the huge processions in Seville. It would be prudent to book ahead in Seville - altho' we easily got places on the campsites along the way - as well as albergues.... The only place we had problems with accommodation was Salamanca - and that was because it was graduation week - even the albergues were full of students - we had to cycle on an extra 7km to the nearest campsite....
So enjoy your Camino - it will be all the better for the extra culture that Holy Week brings - even as a non-Christian I found it intensely moving....

 

[Kev&Kath]

We cycled from Cadiz up the VdlP a few years ago - during Holy Week. It was a wonderful time to do so - as every village and town along the way has their own celebrations and processions - we saw these all along the route - including the huge processions in Seville. It would be prudent to book ahead in Seville - altho' we easily got places on the campsites along the way - as well as albergues.... The only place we had problems with accommodation was Salamanca - and that was because it was graduation week - even the albergues were full of students - we had to cycle on an extra 7km to the nearest campsite....
So enjoy your Camino - it will be all the better for the extra culture that Holy Week brings - even as a non-Christian I found it intensely moving....

Thanks for the advice! Yep...I sense a double-edged sword walking during the Easter celebrations. We could easily modify our dates, but the experience of Seville at this particular time of year is a huge drawcard for us. The 'heads-up' on graduation week is appreciated. Not something I had considered. Cheers!

 

[Grousedoctor]

I arrived in Sevilla during Semana Santa in 2019. Although it was a crazy time there, the processions were well worth witnessing. Do make your reservation well in advance. I stayed at the very adequate Triana Hostel just a short walk across the river from the cathedral. It’s also just off the Camino so it made a good starting point for me since I also rented my bicycle through them. Doing this again, I would have spent a second night there instead of quickly leaving the next day. With more time in the city during Semana Santa, I might have gotten my credencial stamped at the cathedral. Once I got out of the business of Sevilla, I pretty much had the Camino to myself. Even during Holy Week, there were no problems finding albergue accommodations at my stopping points. Although the weather was unseasonable cool and wet for my first week, the natural beauty and history you experience along the VDLP makes it a Camino that I look forward to doing a second time.