PALIO

Holy Week in Seville, or Semana Santa, is a profound tapestry of faith, art, and tradition. Each year, the city transforms into a grand stage where religious brotherhoods (hermandades) process through the streets, bearing elaborate floats (pasos) that depict the Passion of Christ. These processions are not merely spectacles; they are acts of devotion, deeply rooted in the city's cultural and spiritual identity.
The costaleros, the individuals who carry the heavy pasos on their shoulders. Historically, this physically demanding role has been exclusively male, a tradition that persists in Seville despite evolving societal norms.
The gender dynamics of Semana Santa extend beyond the costaleros. Women have traditionally participated as manolas, donning black lace mantillas and mourning attire, symbolising sorrow and piety. While some women have taken on roles as nazarenas (penitents), their presence in leadership positions within the hermandades has been limited.
                                                                                 

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