Procession of the blacks (EN)
InBonilla de la Sierra, the Procession of the Black Figures is one of those traditions that cannot be fully explained in words. It is experienced in silence, with respect, and with the sense of witnessing something deeply authentic.
A unique Holy Week event that transforms solemnity, music, and darkness into a one-of-a-kind experience.
The procession takes place on the night of Holy Thursday, when the collegiate church of San Martín de Tours fills with anticipation. The dim light, barely broken by candlelight, transforms the church into a setting of absolute contemplation.
There are no grand processions or crowds of brotherhood members. The essence of this tradition lies in its austerity. Three penitents, dressed in strict black, advance in solitude, guided by the sound of three instruments that announce the death of Christ: the bell, a type of bassoon, and the drum.
A procession unlike any other:
The three penitents do not march together. Each begins his journey with extreme slowness, separated from the next by a distance of approximately thirty meters, allowing the sound and the silence to build the emotion of the moment.
The darkness, the cadence of their steps, and the resonance of the instruments transform the procession into an overwhelming experience, marked by humility and introspection.
The tradition continues the following day, after the Way of the Cross, when the penitents repeat the rite in daylight with their faces covered. Later, they accompany the Holy Sepulcher alongside the rest of the townspeople, this time with their faces uncovered.
What makes the Procession of the Blacks unique is not only its formal distinctiveness, but the intensity with which Bonilla de la Sierra has managed to preserve a deeply moving cultural expression, free from spectacle and faithful to its essence.
You can discover this tradition at:
A procession that is awe-inspiring at night and captivating by day.
The Procession of the Blacks is one of those cultural treasures that make Bonilla de la Sierra a truly unique place.