Where to go for Easter and Holy Week

One of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the world, which every brotherhood passes through on the official route.

The Mudejar palace and gardens, the calm morning counterweight to procession days.

Home of La Macarena, the most beloved Virgin image of Seville's Holy Week.

The grand splurge by the gardens, walking distance to the Cathedral route.

The Renaissance cathedral on the procession circuit, nicknamed La Manquita.

Moorish palace-fortress above the centre, the calm morning sight of the week.

Picasso in his birthplace, the indoor hour for a hot Holy Week afternoon.

Reliable mid-range base by the Cathedral and the port, on the route.

Spanish Gothic at its purest, walls of medieval stained glass above the old town.

Romanesque church whose royal pantheon holds vivid 12th-century frescoes.

Gaudi outside Catalonia: a castle-like early work a short walk from the Cathedral.

Sleep in the Renaissance monastery of San Marcos, Leon's great splurge address.

Yellow Baroque church at the heart of the main alfombra and procession routes.

Antigua's emblematic arch on 5a Avenida Norte, framing the volcano at dawn.

The cathedral on Parque Central, orientation point for the whole week.

Convent hotel and museum, Antigua's splurge base east of the centre.

The hilltop cathedral above Boac's heritage houses, the island's spiritual centre.

Small museum for island context between Moriones encounters in Boac.

Boac's best-equipped hotel, with spa and garden south of the centre.

Simple in-town Boac hotel for a budget Holy Week base.

Village whose Good Friday Passion play ends in real crucifixions by penitents.

The city's cathedral, the orthodox centre of Holy Week in San Fernando.

San Fernando's established mid-range hotel on McArthur Highway.

Chain-reliable rooms in the Laus Group complex in San Fernando.

Pink Baroque masterpiece built from silver wealth, centre of Taxco's Holy Week.

Taxco's main square below Santa Prisca, the town's gathering point all week.

The classic hillside hotel above Taxco's centre and its procession lanes.

Colonial-style hotel a block from Santa Prisca, with pool and rooftop.

Starting point of the Good Friday Procession of Silence in Oaxaca City.

Oaxaca's defining church, a gilded Baroque interior above the Alcala.

Central market for Lenten dishes, moles, tejate ingredients and everyday Oaxaca food.

Chef-led boutique hotel south of Santo Domingo, with a defining restaurant.

Seat of the Easter Vigil and the balcony for the Urbi et Orbi blessing.

Torchlit Way of the Cross here on Good Friday night, led by the Pope.

The Pope's own cathedral, where the Maundy Thursday evening Mass is held.

Monti boutique by the Forum, handy for the Colosseum on Good Friday night.

The Duomo whose Easter Mass lights the colombina that fires the cart outside.

The square where the Brindellone cart explodes in fireworks at about 11:00.

Small church keeping the historic flints from which the Easter fire is struck.

River-facing Oltrarno luxury, a short walk over the Arno to the Duomo.

Greece's great town square, centre of the Botides and the midnight Resurrection.

Church of the island's beloved saint, processed through town in Holy Week.

Venetian fortress over the town, backdrop to Holy Saturday fireworks.

Beloved neoclassical boutique a few lanes from the Liston in the Old Town.

One of the two rival parish churches of the Vrontados rocket war.

11th-century Byzantine monastery with celebrated mosaics, the island's calm pick.

Mastic village of black and white patterned houses in the island's south.

Harbour-front four-star in Chios Town, the default base south of Vrontados.

Church of Calvary and the tomb, home of the Orthodox Holy Fire on Holy Saturday.

The Good Friday route of the cross through the Old City's narrow streets.

Church by the Garden of Gethsemane, the Maundy Thursday place above all.

Historic grand hotel on King David Street, walking distance to Jaffa Gate.