Written by Joan Resina, Director of the Isla Canela Golf Hotel
If you are looking for a destination to enjoy a peaceful holiday, with activities for all tastes, enviable cuisine and, of course, good weather, Isla Canela could be your ideal choice. Here are some of the experiences you can enjoy in Isla Canela and Ayamonte during Easter week. Let’s get started:
We will answer this question as adopted residents of Ayamonte, where we continue to enjoy and be surprised by the qualities of this wonderful town.
Ayamonte itself is worth visiting for several reasons: its authentic Andalusian style, its frontier atmosphere, its cuisine, its culture, its people, its magnificent beaches at Isla Canela, its proximity to the Algarve and the Sierra de Huelva, among others. But Holy Week in Ayamonte deserves a special visit to enjoy all the qualities mentioned above, as well as processions with a rich heritage and a closeness that make our Holy Week an unforgettable experience.
The music, the silence of the people, the candles, the rhythmic sound of the poles, the aroma of flowers and incense, the sound of the costaleros’ feet dragging on the ground, the little ones asking the penitents, dressed in tunics and hoods, for wax to make the traditional wax balls that every child in Ayamonte cherishes… we assure you that the energy of these moments can be felt in the atmosphere; it is truly mesmerising.
Ayamonte offers many places where you can see the floats, almost touching them. La Esquina de la Peña (you have to stand and wait on Calle Lusitania, next to the Bar Museum), where the procession comes along Calle San Diego and has to turn at La Esquina de la Peña to head down Calle Cristobal Colon, or as we Ayamontinos know it, Calle Real.
The exit of the floats through the doors of the churches is another of those exciting moments. Some exits are easier than others, and some are really difficult. The floats are taller than some doors, and in the specific case of the exit of La Esperanza del Mar on Holy Tuesday from the Temple of San Francisco, the float is carried out on its knees.
One of the things we most enjoy doing when we go on holiday is treating ourselves and enjoying the wonderful cuisine our country has to offer. This is even more true if we head south, as Andalusia is known nationally and internationally for having some of the best cuisine in the world.
Ayamonte also excels in this regard. Remember that ray with paprika is the most traditional dish, not forgetting Huelva prawns, Jabugo ham, clams and razor clams from our beaches, fish and cuttlefish, Iberian meats and seafood rice dishes in Punta del Moral. And because life needs a little sweetness, we can’t leave without trying coca ayamontina, a traditional Easter sweet.
And if we wash it all down with a good wine from the Condado de Huelva or a cold beer as only Andalusia knows how to serve, the week, as well as being Holy, will be unforgettable or ‘inesquecível’ as our Portuguese neighbours would say.
One of the great advantages of visiting Isla Canela during Holy Week is its mild and sunny climate. While temperatures are colder in other parts of Spain, in this area you can enjoy sunny days. The temperature of the Atlantic water begins to warm up at this time of year, allowing you to take your first dips of the year.
This great climate is the perfect backdrop for many activities that take place in Ayamonte and Isla Canela during Holy Week. For example, ‘la Madrugá’, the night from Thursday to Good Friday, from the Capilla del Socorro in the La Villa neighbourhood, at around 2:00 a.m., Padre Jesús Nazareno (known as ‘the Lord’ to the people of Ayamonte) and the Virgen del Socorro leave the chapel.
In the Plaza del Salvador, you can see their arrival and enjoy some saetas (religious songs) sung with passion to the Lord. This float has no legs to support it, so during breaks in the procession it is placed on the forks carried by its bearers.
One of the most appealing aspects of Isla Canela during Easter is that, unlike other tourist destinations, it is not crowded. While it can be difficult to find a place to relax on other beaches in Spain, here you can enjoy wide sandy beaches where you can stroll or sunbathe with the peace and quiet you need on an Easter break.
There is also a contrast in Ayamonte, as during these days the town is bustling with activity. It is springtime and the weather is usually splendid. Going out to enjoy and experience the processions is the perfect end to a day at the beach, an excursion, water sports or golf.
In the evening, from 7 pm onwards, we recommend going out for a tapa with a beer, in some cases to see the processions leaving the churches and in others to wait for the images to pass by at specific points in the town, where the proximity I mentioned is exciting (you have to go out early, because Ayamonte gets crowded and if there is one downside, it is that it is not easy to find a place to have dinner during rush hour).
In addition to golf, water sports and hiking, Holy Week is the best time to visit the main churches in Ayamonte, Las Angustias, La Mercé, El Salvador (in La Villa) and the Temple of San Francisco. The procession from the Temple of La Mercé on Holy Monday is also worth seeing. It takes place on a narrow, sloping street and requires special skill on the part of the bearers to carry Jesús Cautivo, Cristo de la Buena Muerte and María Santísima del Rosario.
Watching the Resurrected Christ and the Virgin of Victory in procession on Easter Sunday morning is the ideal prelude to a good lunch and to round off the experience of Holy Week in Ayamonte.
In this article, as well as giving you 5 reasons to come to Isla Canela at Easter, we wanted to convey what we feel during this experience, an experience that we will never tire of recommending. It is beautiful, welcoming, exciting and, what’s more, it shows the enormous capacity of the people of Ayamonte to come together, enjoy themselves and ensure that those who visit us enjoy a unique experience. The possibility of enjoying the beach, tradition, gastronomy and spectacular weather is at your fingertips.
If you are thinking of coming to Isla Canela during this time, we know that you want a quality holiday where your only concern is to enjoy yourself. That is why we invite you to discover our Isla Canela Golf Boutique Hotel, where you can enjoy the best holiday experience during Easter in Isla Canela.
Don’t forget to ask for a Cofrade Guide to Holy Week in Ayamonte at the hotel reception or tourist office, where you can see the departure times, which processions are taking place and where. Remember that a huge car park has opened in the Ayamonte marina, a 5-minute walk from the centre, so parking is no longer a problem!
Welcome to Ayamonte and Isla Canela. Happy Easter.
