Easter trip - Sevilla and Córdoba

I knew Easter was a big celebration in Spain, but I couldn't quite believe it until I saw it myself. I'm not religious, so Easter for me usually means a holiday when I go to see my family; however seeing religious festivities here this year was a very interesting cultural experience.

In Hungary Easter is practically celebrated on Sunday and Monday: we usually eat a lot of eggs and ham, color eggs and on Mondays men go and throw water (or in cities perfume) on women so that they won't fade. :)

Here is Spain is very different: they celebrate Easter Thursday and Friday as well (they call the entire week Semana Santa - Holy Week) and there are processions all over the country: they take huge statues of saints and virgins and carry them around the village/town/city along sometimes with music or they sing. These statues are accompanied by people dressed up in special cloaks and hats that covers them entirely, except for their eyes. They carry processional candles or sometimes crosses as well. To be honest with their dresses I found them more scary than holy, but this is really my personal opinion on this. :)

I heard these processions are a bit different in each region and as I was traveling those days, I got to see them in Sevilla:

There were a lot of curious people (like us :)) mostly taking photos.

Aside from Easter celebrations these days were very nice, we spent one day in Sevilla and 2 in Córdoba with a very good friend of mine who came for a visit. :) Both cities are amazing and it feels like already summer there.

Since we didn't have much time, we did a free walking tour in both places and then went to visit the most common sights (Alcázar, Cathedral in Sevilla, Mezquita in Córdoba, etc.) and of course ate a lot of extremely delicious food. :)

Here is the trip in pictures:

Sevilla

Plaza de Espana - the most impressive square of Sevilla 

Selfie with Jerick in front of the Cathedral

Inside the Royal Alcázar - a couple of months ago the new season of Game of Thrones was filmed here :)

Amazing tiles and arches.

The beautiful (and huge) gardens of the Alcázar.

View on the city from Torre de Oro.

View from another angle and sunset colors from a viewpoint called "Las Setas" (the mushrooms :)).

Córdoba

Ruins of a Roman temple

Former bullfighter square

Random street selfie in the Jewish quarter

While queuing to see the mosque... Palm and orange trees everywhere, the latter blooming, so there was a wonderful smell all over the city :)

Inside the Mezquita: arches, more arches and in the middle the Christian cathedral "insertion" that feels like entering a different world.

In the gardens of the Alcázar of Córdoba

View on the city and the gardens

Across the bridge by day and by night

Light show at the Alcázar at night

Green courtyards