Category: Archive

Valencia News: Semana Santa, clean beaches, a drug bust, more new arrivals, and a pigeon problem

Good morning! Here’s your news for Monday, 14 April. Semana Santa continues this week with processions and festivities across the city. If you’re curious about Valencia’s unique maritime traditions, check out the latest blog post: Semana Santa Marinera: Valencia’s Unique Maritime Holy Week

Semana Santa

Palm Sunday brought good weather and large crowds to the beaches and processions, marking a strong start to the holiday week. Levante: AEMET weather forecast | Las Provincias: Palm Sunday processions

Politics

Salomé Pradas, former Interior Minister, gave an emotional testimony last week in the ongoing investigation into October’s floods. She defended President Carlos Mazón, blaming technical staff for failing to convey the urgency of the disaster. Las Provincias: Pressure on Mazón | Valencia Plaza: Mazón grilled in session

A new protest against Mazón’s flood response is scheduled for 28 April. This will be the sixth consecutive monthly protest since the disaster. El País: Protest called six months after the DANA

Flood Recovery

The regional government has launched an online suggestion box for citizens to give feedback on the recovery plan. El Español: Public input encouraged

A new flood prevention strategy is being developed for the city, focused on river overflow.
Valencia Extra: Prevention plan in development

Valencia’s beaches have been cleared of flood debris and are now ready for summer.
Levante: Beaches prepared for bathing season

Traffic and Transport

Residents blocked access to the Pérez Galdós tunnel, demanding its removal. They argue it worsens traffic, increases pollution, and disrupts local commerce. La Razón: Neighborhood protest

Metro Valencia is struggling due to flood-related repairs, underfunding, and strain from free travel programs. Levante: Collapse of metro system

Cabify is introducing a motorcycle-sharing service in Valencia with 200 vehicles. Valencia Plaza: Cabify enters motosharing market

Changing City

Valencia gained nearly 20,000 new residents in the past year, with around 20% being foreign nationals. Levante: Population growth | Valencia Extra: Where newcomers come from

The city council plans to approve a new housing development in Benimaclet: 400 homes and 30,000 m² of green space. Valencia Extra: Benimaclet project moves forward

The city has released the latest survey on housing. A whopping 96% of residents feel they live in a “well-connected” neighborhood and nearly half live in a home they fully own and nearly a quarter pay rent. Ayuntamiento: 96% live in “well-connected area”.

Crime and Corruption

Police arrested three members of a family-run drug network operation in Ruzafa. Las Provincias: Ketamine, speed, ‘pink cocaine’, and viagra – drug supermarket busted.

The murder of an American violinist has focused attention on the building where his body was found—an abandoned structure from the 1950s known as the “German Workshop.” Levante: Urban exploration site under scrutiny

Climate and Environment

The EU is planning to ban single-use plastics commonly found in restaurants, including mini servings of olive oil and jam. Las Provincias: New EU regulation on plastics

The city council is working to control Valencia’s pigeon population, which has increased by 60% since 2021. El Español: Pigeon control measures

That’s all for today’s update. The next news roundup will be posted on Thursday. Have a great week!

Semana Santa Marinera: Valencia’s Unique Maritime Holy Week

While many Spanish cities celebrate Semana Santa (Holy Week) with processions and pageantry, Valencia’s version is uniquely rooted in its maritime soul. The neighborhoods of Cabanyal, Canyamelar, and El Grao form the heart of this celebration. Semana Santa processions recreate the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But it is also a time to honor the fishermen and sailors—especially those who have been lost at sea.

A Community-Centered Celebration

Dozens of processions unfold throughout the week. Some are small and intimate—just a few drummers and participants. Others feature grand floats, elaborately costumed biblical characters, and full marching bands. All are organized by religious brotherhoods (cofradías) connected to four historic churches in the maritime neighborhoods:

  • Santa María del Mar
  • Nuestra Señora del Rosario
  • Cristo Redentor–San Rafael
  • Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles

Palm Sunday: Entry into Jerusalem

Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, commemorating Jesus’s arrival in Jerusalem. Residents dress as biblical figures and gather for the blessing of the palms. Afterward, processions wind through the narrow streets of the maritime neighborhoods.

Holy Thursday: Sacred Images

Also known as Maundy Thursday, this day marks the Last Supper. A unique Procession of the Drums visits all the sacred images used during the week. While many are housed in churches, some are displayed in the homes of brotherhood members, which are opened to the public. It’s a powerful tradition that brings the sacred into the heart of the community.

Good Friday: Procession to the Sea

On Good Friday morning, icons of Christ are carried to the beach amid prayers for those who lost their lives at sea. In the evening, neighborhoods come alive with dramatic processions: hooded penitents, enormous pasos (floats), and Roman centurions. Though the hoods may look ominous, they symbolize penance and mourning. Look closely and you’ll see characters from the Passion story—children as Jesus, Roman guards, even Claudia Procula, Pilate’s wife, recognized by her harp.

Easter Sunday: The Resurrection Parade

Easter Sunday is all joy. Hoods are removed, faces are revealed, and biblical characters parade with flowers, tossing petals to the crowd. The celebration begins the night before, with fireworks at midnight and the curious local tradition of smashing old plates and crockery from balconies.

A uniquely Valencian way to say: death is defeated, and life begins anew.

Experiencing Semana Santa Marinera

Head to one of the four churches in the maritime community. They are the centers of activity during Holy Week. Most processions start early in the morning with another round in the evenings.

More Resources

Photographer Chris Clunn has published a beautiful photo book capturing the spirit of Semana Santa Marinera, complete with explanations of key events. You can find it at La Batisfera, a beloved bookshop in Cabanyal.

For more background, history, and details: