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Inside Spain: 'Not my Virgin' and Booking.com crackdown
Inside Spain: 'Not my Virgin' and Booking.com crackdown

Local Spain

time28-06-2025

  • General
  • Local Spain

Inside Spain: 'Not my Virgin' and Booking.com crackdown

It may not be Holy Week in Seville, but the Virgin Mary is the talk of the town currently. That's because a restoration of an effigy of their patron Virgin - La Virgen de la Macarena - is not up to the standards of locals, who they say has been excessively beautified or 'yassified'. Yassification, for those not in the know (we weren't either) involves editing someone or something in a photo so that they are almost unrecognisable, with unrealistic beauty features. To be clear, this isn't a repeat of the notorious Ecce Homo restoration from a decade ago, where a fresco of Jesus Christ left the Son of God looking like a mix between a monkey and a character from a horror movie. Some heavier eyeliner yes, a bit more rouge perhaps, more contoured eyebrows even, but to the untrained eye not a botched job that deserves such rampant condemnation. Then again, who are we to judge? The fervent adoration Sevillanos have for their Macarena is deeply ingrained in their character, and if there has been such a furore over the restoration job perhaps it's for a reason. You only have to witness locals' weeping during Semana Santa as her effigy is carried through the streets to understand how important La Virgen is to them. Seville's Governing Board of the Macarena Brotherhood has issued a statement apologising to all its members and devotees for any "moral and devotional harm" that may have been caused by the restoration of María Santísima de la Esperanza Macarena, which was meant to improve her image after years of damage caused by candle smoke. Her original gaze, described as a mix of joy and sorrow, has been brought back, the 'fake eyelashes' ditched, the droopy eye lifted. Sevillanos are breathing a sigh of relief. To an outsider, especially those with Christian beliefs, the events of the past days showcase how different religious devotion can be here, and that Spanish or Andalusian Catholicism very much has its own idiosyncrasies that not all of us can fully understand. This comes after Spain's leftist government also ordered Airbnb to take down illegal 66,000 holiday let ads off its platform last May. For anyone who's used this comes as no surprise, as nowadays there are just as many if not more private property owners advertising their holiday homes on the site as there are hotels. For those hoping holiday lets in Spain to disappear as a means of addressing the country's housing crisis, the clampdown is unlikely to make much of a difference, although it still sends out a message to unlicenced holiday let owners. The Amsterdam-based platform has said that the 4,093 non-compliant adverts represent "less than two percent" of its 200,000 properties in Spain and that it had always collaborated with the authorities to regulate the short-term rental sector. Most of them were located in the Canary Islands, one of the regions hardest hit by overtourism and spiralling property prices and rents. "We're making progress in the fight against a speculative model that expels people from their neighbourhoods and violates the right to a home," far-left consumer rights minister Pablo Bustinduy wrote on social network Bluesky. As positive as it may be to know that Spanish authorities are taking the rampant proliferation of tourism apartments a bit more seriously, it's still a drop in the ocean. It's also worth noting that it's not a black-white matter, there are thousands of people who rely on the revenue they make from their second home to get by in Spain. If anyone should be targeted, it's the big corporations that are buying up apartments and turning them into more remunerative Airbnb-style lets, reducing the stock of long-term rental properties and residential properties to buy. An article in Spain's Cadena Ser news website recently pointed out that 4 in 10 tourist flats in the country don't show their licence and that 'nothing happens'. In essence, town halls turn a blind eye because they don't their neighbours and/or voters to be negatively affected by the clampdown. "There's no will because they don't want to upset those who work in this field. Spain thrives on tourism, and hotels are no longer able to cope with the dramatic increase in demand in recent years," Alejandro Inurrieta, academic at Madrid's Complutense University, told Cadena Ser. However, this could be about to change in the coming days, as on July 1st all short-term and temporary lets in the country have to register with the Spanish government.

An expert guide to the perfect weekend in Seville this summer
An expert guide to the perfect weekend in Seville this summer

Telegraph

time28-06-2025

  • Telegraph

An expert guide to the perfect weekend in Seville this summer

Known for its steamy-hot summers, mild winters and sultry operatic gypsy heroine Carmen, Seville is a bijou city whose fabulous food, extraordinary Mudejar, Gothic and Renaissance architecture, and exotic flamenco rhythms never fail to charm and seduce. History oozes through its pores, with ancient Moorish walls, Roman ruins and Baroque churches at every turn. Follow the locals to hole-in-the-wall bars, sip cañas (small glasses) of beer, and then get lost wandering the tiny streets of Barrio Santa Cruz, dotted with orange-tree-filled plazas, before resting in a quiet, shady corner on a tiled bench. For a more authentic experience, head to boho Macarena or tile-and-gypsy quarter Triana. Then, after dusk, head up the rooftops to admire the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and its Moorish-Christian tower from a terrace bar. For further Seville inspiration, see our in-depth guides to the city's best hotels, restaurants, bars, things to see and do, and things to see and do for free. If planning a longer trip, discover our ultimate itinerary in Andalusia here. In this guide: What's new in Seville this summer Experience Sacred art exhibition at Castillo de San Jorge Admire artisan pieces from Seville's Semana Santa processions at the medieval Castillo de San Jorge, until late August – from lifelike wooden images and elaborate silver floats to carved candles and exquisitely embroidered velvet canopies. I also loved the Divina Pastora's (Holy Shepherdess) gold lace bonnet and the wax petal installation. Stay Casa del Limonero A winning combination of magnificent 15th-century palace, tranquil garden and swimming pool, plus a stunning contemporary art collection. Casa del Limonero is Santa Cruz's intriguing new boutique hotel opening. Sit on a Jacobsen Egg chair, see captivating Malick Sidibé portraits and then float in a sea-green mosaic-tiled pool. Eat Augurio A women-led team brings the finest catch and the warmest service to centrally located Augurio. As always, the delectably tender, juicy atún de almadraba (sustainably caught bluefin tuna) is best appreciated raw as tartare, paired with a rich Amontillado sherry. How to spend your weekend Day one: morning Be swept back in time to King Pedro the Wise's Mudejar (Christian-Moorish) royal court at the 14th-century Alcazar Palace, with its exquisite ceramic tiles and heavenly gold ceilings. Explore the gardens, home to peacocks, pavilions and pools. Look familiar? You may have seen it as the Water Gardens of Dorne in Game of Thrones. In summer, outdoor night-time concerts are held here, probably Seville's most magical venue, with the grutesco stone wall as a backdrop as moonlight streams through the palm trees. Note that tickets are collected from the office in the Patio de Banderas, not at the main entrance; entry is free on Monday afternoons. Find more of the city's best attractions here.

A journey through Zamora's Semana Santa
A journey through Zamora's Semana Santa

Hans India

time18-05-2025

  • Hans India

A journey through Zamora's Semana Santa

I was on my way to Zamora city, the capital of Zamora province in the Castile and León region of northwest Spain- a less explored and charming part of the country. Outside, swathes of golden rape fields and emerald meadows stretched like silken tapestries, while the icy breath of a one-degree morning clung to the car windows. I was en route to witness Semana Santa—the Holy Week—in this ancient city, often called Spain's Romanesque treasure. Zamora, perched above the Duero River, is a city suspended in time. With the highest concentration of Romanesque churches in all of Europe—24 dating from the 12th and 13th centuries—it's often described as a living museum of stone and faith. I checked into the Palacio del Duero, a tranquil hotel carved out of a 14th-century convent, and met my guide, Cristina, who led me through the heart of Zamora's storied past. We began at Balborraz Street, a medieval artery sloping steeply toward the river lined with picturesque low-rise houses with balconies and wooden gazebos that overlook the street. This street hosts one of the key processions of Holy Week, and the air seemed to echo with the slow, solemn steps of hooded penitents. Everywhere we walked, I found the city reflecting the mood of the Holy Week: right from Semana Santa inspired window dressings to figurines of Christ in sorrow. Traffic lights were discreetly covered so as not to disturb the sacred aesthetic during processions. The statue of the Merlú in Plaza Mayor captivated me—two bronze figures frozen in time, playing the drum and the cornet. They once roamed the city at dawn, waking the faithful for the processions. Thetradition continues even today, at 5 a.m. on Good Friday, five such pairs march through the streets, their haunting rhythms stirring souls from sleep. Cristina led me through the Romanesque mile: San Juan de Puerta Nueva, with its beautiful rose window; Santa María Magdalena, home to a mystical sepulchre and a smiling Christ, decorative elements, and stunning apse. San Isidoro, San Vicente, and Santiago del Burgo, each had its own charm. The Church of San Pedro y San Ildefonso (the Saint patron of Zamora) houses the relics of San Ildefonso and San Atilano. Here the Virgin of Beautiful Love—Virgen del Amor Hermoso, carved in wood, is adorned with real earrings donated by devotees seeking good fortune in love. She is depicted triumphing over evil, her foot crushing a devil-serpent bearing an apple in its jaws. We went past the Theatre of Ramos Carrion-a beautiful blue building; explored Viriato Square with the imposing sculpture of the Portuguese shepherd; admired the 'Stone Bridge', one of the most iconic landmarks of Zamora- a Romanesque bridge from the 12th century consisting of sixteen oval arches that elegantly span the river. The Cathedral of Zamora stood like a sentinel over the city, crowned with its unique Byzantine dome. Christoph Strieder- councillor of tourism in the town hall of Zamora, my cheerful host, received me warmly, took me around and introduced me to the local luminaries. Inside the cathedral, light filtered softly over carved choir stalls and Renaissance gates. I felt I was in a period filmset: clergymen in velvet robes and rosaries holding staffs and the brotherhood standing solemnly in penitence. Protected from the cold I sat snugly inside the church and watched as they prepared for the procession. As hundreds of people viewed through the last rays of the sun, the solemn gathering in front of the cathedral made a picture of divine spirituality. Incense permeated the air as the penitents took an oath of silence. Holding candles, they then started moving slowly and so did the Pasos, carried reverently by the brotherhood members. As I watched a stork feeding her young atop the Cathedral, with passion flowers blooming below, I knew I hadn't merely observed Semana Santa—I had lived it, in a city where faith is etched in every stone and whispered in every silence.

Spanish Holy Week procession footage misrepresented as Pope Francis funeral
Spanish Holy Week procession footage misrepresented as Pope Francis funeral

Yahoo

time02-05-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Yahoo

Spanish Holy Week procession footage misrepresented as Pope Francis funeral

'The Pope LOOKS LIKE he is literally having a SATANIC Ritual as a funeral,' read the caption on a Facebook video published on April 22, 2025. The post has been shared more than 1,800 times. The short clip shows a procession of people wearing robes and black hooded masks while holding illuminated staffs as they march to a drum inside a church. A red inverted cross with a rooster is embroidered on the outfits. The same video was also shared alongside similar claims in Spanish and on other platforms, including Instagram and X. Pope Francis died of a stroke and cardiac arrest on April 21, 2025, according to official records. He lay in state at Saint Peter's Basilica for three days of mourning before he was buried on April 26, 2025 (archived here). He was interred at the Santa Maria Maggiore church in Rome after a funeral mass in St Peter's Square in the Vatican (archived here). However, claims that the video of robed figures shows the late pope's funeral are false. A reverse image search of keyframes from the false video found other videos of similar religious ceremonies. One of the results shows a similar scene of the same penitents in a video published on TikTok in 2024 by an account dedicated to the Holy Week processions in Cartagena (archived here). Holy Week, or Semana Santa, in Cartagena is a tradition that attracts hordes of tourists to the region for ten days of processions leading to Easter Sunday. The video caption in Spanish reads: 'Tercio del Arrepentimiento De San Pedro Miércoles Santo 2024', which translates to, 'Third of the Repentance of Saint Peter Holy Wednesday 2024'. A Google search of the Spanish caption led to a page about the San Pedro Apóstol Association, California Brotherhood in Cartagena, Spain, which shows and describes the same ceremonial attire seen in the video circulating online (archived here). Contacted by AFP Fact Check, the San Pedro Apostol Association said the video shows 'the departure of this Holy Wednesday's procession of our female contingent from the church of Santa María de Gracia in Cartagena'. Holy Wednesday was celebrated on April 16 this year, five days before Pope Francis died. 'Regarding the symbols, the inverted cross, also known as the cross of Saint Peter, represents humility, the feeling of not being worthy of being crucified like his master,' San Pedro Apostol wrote in an email. San Pedro Apostol said the rooster refers to Jesus' prophecy to Peter, in Matthew 26:34, which reads: 'Jesus said to him: 'Truly I tell you, this night before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times'.' 'These symbols refer to the life of Saint Peter, which, along with many others, we parade during Holy Week in Cartagena.' AFP also geolocated the 2024 TikTok video of the San Pedro Apostol Association's procession to Cartagena by matching a distinctive building that now houses a restaurant called 'Vinarte'. In 2019, according to Google Maps, it was the site of a clothing store called Love & Paradise (archived here and here). Cardinals will meet on May 7, 2025, in a secret conclave to elect the new pope, the Vatican announced on April 28, 2025 (archived here). AFP Fact Check has debunked other false claims related to the death of Pope Francis, including here and here.

Spanish Holy Week procession footage misrepresented as Pope Francis funeral
Spanish Holy Week procession footage misrepresented as Pope Francis funeral

AFP

time02-05-2025

  • AFP

Spanish Holy Week procession footage misrepresented as Pope Francis funeral

'The Pope LOOKS LIKE he is literally having a SATANIC Ritual as a funeral,' read the caption on a Facebook video published on April 22, 2025. The post has been shared more than 1,800 times. Image Screenshot of the false Facebook post, published on April 22, 2025 The short clip shows a procession of people wearing robes and black hooded masks while holding illuminated staffs as they march to a drum inside a church. A red inverted cross with a rooster is embroidered on the outfits. The same video was also shared alongside similar claims in Spanish and on other platforms, including Instagram and X. Pope Francis died of a stroke and cardiac arrest on April 21, 2025, according to official records. He lay in state at Saint Peter's Basilica for three days of mourning before he was buried on April 26, 2025 (archived here). He was interred at the Santa Maria Maggiore church in Rome after a funeral mass in St Peter's Square in the Vatican (archived here). However, claims that the video of robed figures shows the late pope's funeral are false. Holy Week clip A reverse image search of keyframes from the false video found other videos of similar religious ceremonies. One of the results shows a similar scene of the same penitents in a video published on TikTok in 2024 by an account dedicated to the Holy Week processions in Cartagena (archived here). Holy Week, or Semana Santa, in Cartagena is a tradition that attracts hordes of tourists to the region for ten days of processions leading to Easter Sunday. The video caption in Spanish reads: 'Tercio del Arrepentimiento De San Pedro Miércoles Santo 2024', which translates to, 'Third of the Repentance of Saint Peter Holy Wednesday 2024'. A Google search of the Spanish caption led to a page about the San Pedro Apóstol Association, California Brotherhood in Cartagena, Spain, which shows and describes the same ceremonial attire seen in the video circulating online (archived here). Image Screenshot of the emblem on the video compared with the San Pedro Apostol Association website Contacted by AFP Fact Check, the San Pedro Apostol Association said the video shows 'the departure of this Holy Wednesday's procession of our female contingent from the church of Santa María de Gracia in Cartagena'. Holy Wednesday was celebrated on April 16 this year, five days before Pope Francis died. 'Regarding the symbols, the inverted cross, also known as the cross of Saint Peter, represents humility, the feeling of not being worthy of being crucified like his master,' San Pedro Apostol wrote in an email. San Pedro Apostol said the rooster refers to Jesus' prophecy to Peter, in Matthew 26:34, which reads: 'Jesus said to him: 'Truly I tell you, this night before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times'.' 'These symbols refer to the life of Saint Peter, which, along with many others, we parade during Holy Week in Cartagena.' AFP also geolocated the 2024 TikTok video of the San Pedro Apostol Association's procession to Cartagena by matching a distinctive building that now houses a restaurant called 'Vinarte'. In 2019, according to Google Maps, it was the site of a clothing store called Love & Paradise (archived here and here). Image Screenshots comparing the video (left) to the location as it was seen in 2019 on Google Maps Cardinals will meet on May 7, 2025, in a secret conclave to elect the new pope, the Vatican announced on April 28, 2025 (archived here). AFP Fact Check has debunked other false claims related to the death of Pope Francis, including here and here.

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