Bloody Holy Week

With the cross in tow

In the early hours of the morning, the first penitents arrive from other nearby towns to join the procession.

The procession of the crucified.

The penitents carry their heavy crosses throughout the procession.

With the cross in tow

From time to time, the carriers of the crosses have to make failures because they are exhausted.

With the cross in tow

Some of them walk barefoot to increase their penance.

A bloody fair

Curious, food stalls and a whole host of shops are installed throughout the tour, increasing the feeling of finding you in a fair...a fair a bit bloody..

A bloody festival

Surrounded by what looks like a carnival, the cross bearers arrive.

The bloody "Via Crucis" starts.

The men, some of them only adolescents, are preparing to begin their particular purification of the sins committed during the year.

Inflammation must be cut to bleed.

Once started and after some fustigations, the back is ready to be cut and bleeding throughout the entire journey.

The blood festival begins.

Blood begins to sprout, the festival begins..

Stippling blood paint

People protect themselves from the blood that the penitents sprinkle during their procession, the streets are the same as if they had been painted to the blood "Gotelé" or Stippling.