Holy Week in Sevilla?

[Hikoi]

Hi Everybody - I've been stalking these forums for a while now and it's time to jump in with some questions... I'm a first time pilgrim (walking anyway!) wanting to begin the VdlP after Easter 2016 (less than a year away!) I would like to spend Easter in Seville and then set off Monday or Tuesday after Easter Sunday. I'm just a little concerned that the albergues along the way might be really busy? Can anyone advise me? I have loads of other questions too...

 

[Deleted member 3000]

I'm just a little concerned that the albergues along the way might be really busy?

The number of pilgrims increases after the Holy Week, but there have not been reports of a bed shortage. If a town is full, you can take a taxi to someplace nearby. You probably will want reservations in Sevilla. It will have a lot of people in the city for the festivities.

Buen camino.

 

[gracethepilgrim]

Fantastic fun - Easter in sevilla. One of my favourite times of year there. The orange trees in blossom, streets crowded with beautifully dressed locals and tourists, and colourful bars brimming each evening. Have fun, Hikoi. It’s a perfect way to start your VdlP and I’m sure you won’t have any worries with albergues at that time of year.

 

[FelixBC]

Hello Hikoi! Excellent plan. I just did this this year, started on Easter Monday from Sevilla. Definitely book well in advance. Right now is not too soon. I booked 9 months in advance, and got a tiny room in the Santa Cruz neighbourhood, not far from the cathedral. But affordably, which was the key. They did charge the entire amount, no refunds available, to my credit card, a week before I arrived. Seems to be standard policy, as it's so busy then.

There was a problem with albergues filling up, especially when a couple of them were closed for renovations, and no notice on the stage before. (Embalse de Alcantara). I learned to phone ahead. (Got a Mobilstar SIM card, very affordably, service almost everywhere, including very isolated areas.) The camino Sanabrese through Ourense was not nearly so busy, later on, as reported by friends who took that route.

More questions? Fire away! It was tough, and lonely in parts, but well worth doing.

I have tons of photos from my walk on Instragram.com/felixBC, if you have time to scroll back in my timeline.

 

[Antonis265]

Hi Felix!
Do you know if Camino Sanabrese is generally quiet...? Im walking it in a month...

 

[Hikoi]

Hello Hikoi! Excellent plan. I just did this this year, started on Easter Monday from Sevilla. Definitely book well in advance. Right now is not too soon. I booked 9 months in advance, and got a tiny room in the Santa Cruz neighbourhood, not far from the cathedral. But affordably, which was the key. They did charge the entire amount, no refunds available, to my credit card, a week before I arrived. Seems to be standard policy, as it's so busy then.

There was a problem with albergues filling up, especially when a couple of them were closed for renovations, and no notice on the stage before. (Embalse de Alcantara). I learned to phone ahead. (Got a Mobilstar SIM card, very affordably, service almost everywhere, including very isolated areas.) The camino Sanabrese through Ourense was not nearly so busy, later on, as reported by friends who took that route.

More questions? Fire away! It was tough, and lonely in parts, but well worth doing.

I have tons of photos from my walk on Instragram.com/felixBC, if you have time to scroll back in my timeline.

 

[Hikoi]

Thanks everyone. Great info. FelixBC - was there much rain when you walked? i.e. were the tracks wet? And did you have waterproof shoe/boots? How cold was it in the albergues? Oh, and can you remember the name of the place you stayed in Santa Cruz, Seville?

 

[Anniesantiago]

It was WONDERFUL to be in Sevilla during Holy Week.
The only thing I'd caution you is to make reservations for Sevilla as soon as you know when you'll arrive.
There are plenty of places you can reserve but they will fill up quite early.

 

[Hikoi]

I'm looking at Airbnb for a small apartment for Easter week - centre of the city and near where the processions take place. Any recommendations?

 

[FelixBC]

Hi Felix!
Do you know if Camino Sanabrese is generally quiet...? Im walking it in a month...

Hello Antonis! I went up to Astorga at the end of the via de la plata, but fellow pilgrims who went via the Sanabrese reported that it was very quiet. Sometimes only 1 or 2 pilgrims in a hostel. That was May.
They also mentioned some days of steep uphill walking, long detours around the AVE construction, and that is was wonderful.

 

[FelixBC]

Thanks everyone. Great info. FelixBC - was there much rain when you walked? i.e. were the tracks wet? And did you have waterproof shoe/boots? How cold was it in the albergues? Oh, and can you remember the name of the place you stayed in Santa Cruz, Seville?

Hello! It didn't rain that much, a few days. The albergues were cold. Bring a proper sleeping bag. Even the more upscale hostals didn't want to turn the heat on. Most places have blankets, yes, but the few that didn't were a major problem for me. I sleep cold! Sevilla was hot, but it isn't once you go up into the hills.
I don't remember the hotel, sorry. But I wouldn't choose it again, as it was very tiny. Just big enough for a twin bed, a chair, and a sink. Good enough, but there must be nicer places for not a lot more. Santa Cruz was great though. Near the processions and the cathedral, but off to one side so one could still navigate without getting trapped by crowds and procession routes.

 

[Hikoi]

Thanks for the info Felix. I'm trying to find a suitable sleeping bag (I can't believe how bulky and heavy my old tramping bag is! To think I used to cart that up and down the mountains - in a heavy external frame pack!) What lower temperature do the albergues get down to? Looking on Weather Underground, it seems it can get to zero on a couple of days... Would the albergues be that cold?

 

[FelixBC]

Thanks for the info Felix. I'm trying to find a suitable sleeping bag (I can't believe how bulky and heavy my old tramping bag is! To think I used to cart that up and down the mountains - in a heavy external frame pack!) What lower temperature do the albergues get down to? Looking on Weather Underground, it seems it can get to zero on a couple of days... Would the albergues be that cold?

I don't know what temperature the albergues got down to, not freezing, certainly. But a night in a damp, cold room with no blanket and a too thin bag can be horrid, making the next day even tougher. There's some good down sleeping bags out there, very light. I wish I'd had one with me.

 

[Hikoi]

Ok - light(ish) sleeping bag purchased - rated 5º - 0º - -15º