Spanish Easter a balancing act between pride, faith

By Chang-Ran Kim

SEGOVIA, Spain (Reuters Life!) - At the base of the Roman aqueduct in the Castilian city of Segovia, penitents don tunics, capes and pointed hoods and wait silently to begin their march to the Gothic cathedral in the centre of town.

The joint procession of religious brotherhoods accompanying their treasured sculptures of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary during the Holy Week before Easter dates back 101 years in this picturesque Medieval city 60 km (40 miles) northwest of Madrid.

While Segovia's celebrations of "Semana Santa", or Holy Week, are not as famous as those of Spanish cities such as Seville and Malaga, organizers say interest is growing thanks partly to an increased focus on cultural activities including concerts and photo exhibits alongside the religious rites.

"Our Semana Santa has been declared of regional tourist interest, and now we're aiming for recognition at the national level," said Alberto Herreras, head of the committee of the city's confraternities which organizes the week's events.

As a native of Segovia involved in the Easter rituals for half a century since he was six, Herreras is proud of the achievement. But he's also keenly aware of the risks the higher profile carries.

In an era where many festivals around the world have lost their association with the Christian faith for many, Herreras does not want to turn Holy Week into just another tourist attraction.

Already, Segovia draws hundreds of thousands of tourists every year to its 2,000-plus-year-old aqueduct, the photogenic Alcazar castle and the winding alleyways dotted with dozens of bars, cafes and Romanesque churches.

A rapid train service that opened last month now zips passengers from Madrid in 35 minutes, and that is sure to boost the number of tourists during Semana Santa this year, a tourism official said.