- Saturday 12 April (Lucernario Pilgrims of Hope): Ad portas del inicio de la Semana Santa, will take place the skylight that officially opens the agenda of Easter 2025. This year, the skylight highlights the pilgrimage through the streets of the Historic Centre and the virtue of hope as part of the great universal celebration of the Jubilee, which culminates in a moment of consecration of the city. There will be space for the presentation of sacred and choral music.
Meeting point: Parish Church of Santo Toribio
Arrival point: Proclamation Square
Time: 5:00 p.m.
- Sunday 13 April (Palm Sunday): The celebration of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem will take place in the morning hours with the traditional blessing and procession of the plants, followed by the solemn Eucharist of the Passion of the Lord at the Cathedral Santa Catalina de Alejandría. Attendees are invited to carry live plants which will then be planted in homes and gardens, contributing to the care of the ‘Common House’.
Starting point: Plaza de la Merced
Eucharist: St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral
Start time: 7:30 a.m.
- Monday 14 April (Easter Monday):
Chrism Mass: In Cartagena, on this day, the Chrism Mass takes place, in which the Archbishop blesses the holy oils (oil of the sick and of the catechumens) and consecrates the Holy Chrism. Likewise, all the priests of the Archdiocese renew their priestly promises in a solemn Eucharist.
Place: Cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria.
Time: 10:00 a.m.
-Sacred Choir with artistic exhibition on the Stations of the Cross (Archdiocese of Cartagena and Historical Centre Foundation).
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: La Serrezuela Shopping Centre
-From Tuesday to Holy Saturday (April 15 to 19)
Heritage Route: from 5:00 p.m. departing from the church of San Pedro.
Festival of Sacred Music and Choirs: 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. In the squares of San Pedro and La Trinidad.
- Wednesday, April 16 (Holy Wednesday): Great Confession. As the culmination of Lent, a special day of confessions will take place in the afternoon, with the participation of more than 40 priests, who will hear confessions in Spanish, Italian, English and French. You are invited to contribute with a market to support the social action of the Archdiocese, through the Food Bank.
Time: from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Place: Proclamation Square
- Thursday 17th April (Maundy Thursday): The Easter Triduum begins with the evening Mass of the Lord's Supper. After the Eucharist, the churches are open for worship until midnight. During the night of Maundy Thursday it is customary to visit 7 temples. In the Historic Centre, the 7 heritage churches will be open, and the rest of the churches in Pastoral Zone 1 will be decorated and prepared by a team of Wedding Planners from the city. You are invited to follow the route stipulated in the Passport of Grace, a pastoral aid to guide prayer, meditation and find important historical data of each temple arranged for prayer.
Temples: Cathedral, San Pedro Claver, Santo Domingo, Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo, Santo Domingo, San Roque, Santísima Trinidad, Ermita de las Mercedes (El Cabrero), Perpetuo Socorro (Bocagrande), Santa María del Mar (El Laguito), Ermita de La Candelaria (Pie de la Popa), Santa Cruz (Manga).
- Friday 18th April (Good Friday): A day of great silence and solemnity. The Passion and Death of Jesus Christ is celebrated. In Cartagena, during the morning, a massive Holy Stations of the Cross will take place in the streets of the Historic Centre. In the afternoon, after the liturgical celebration of the Passion, the procession to the Sorrowful Virgin will take place through some squares.
Stations of the Cross:
From 7:00 a.m.
Starting point: Santo Toribio parish church.
Homage to the Sorrowful Virgin
From the Sanctuary of San Pedro Claver to the Temple of Santo Domingo.
Starting point: from 6:00 p.m.
-Saturday 19 April (Holy Saturday): World Youth Day - ‘Dawn of Hope’.
Time: From 5:00 a.m.
Place: Streets of the Historic Centre
- Sunday 20 April (Easter Sunday): Celebration of the Resurrection. Before dawn, the Historic Centre will welcome the runners of the 5 and 10K ‘Run and announce your faith’. A recreational race that passes through the heritage temples of the city. This activity is inspired by the race of the apostles John and Peter when they received the announcement of the resurrection from the women when they found the tomb empty (cf. Jn 20, 3- 18).
Place: Historic Centre and Gethsemani
Departure time: 6:00 a.m.
A week embraced by Cartagena's tourism institutions
‘Cartagena de Indias is consolidating its position as a destination for religious and cultural tourism, offering locals and visitors alike a Holy Week full of faith, art and tradition. From the Secretariat of Tourism we will guarantee the safety, enjoyment and enjoyment of this Jubilee 2025 in the city, we invite everyone to live a unique experience, touring our historic temples, participating in our processions and enjoying an agenda that combines spirituality with culture and gastronomy. It will be a historic Semana Mayor for La Heroica,’ added Teremar Londoño Zurek, Secretary of Tourism.
‘We are very close to experiencing our Holy Week 2025, the first time we will experience it as an international religious tourism destination that is part of the World Religious Tourism Network. During the Holy Days, Cartagena de Indias consolidates itself as a multi-segment city, because those who visit us can enjoy a destination that offers a religious agenda, together with a gastronomic, cultural, heritage, sports, holiday and coastal marine offer. The destination for Easter Week is Cartagena, so we invite Cartageneros to stay in the city and tourists who have not yet decided where to go those days, to decide for the main tourist city in the country. We are waiting for them,’ said Liliana Rodríguez Hurtado, executive president of Corpoturismo.
A week of faith and devotion
‘Our city opens its doors as the Holy doors were opened to receive the graces of this Jubilee year, we also open our hearts to welcome all visitors and pilgrims seeking hope and spiritual renewal, as the Lord says in his word: ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples’ (Isaiah 56:7). In this house, your house, we invite you to discover the richness of our historical, religious and cultural heritage, the priceless beauty of our temples and the warmth of all our practices. In this major week we come together to unite, to welcome and share faith, hope and charity,’ said Father Julio César Muñoz, delegate of the Pastoral Ministry of Tourism of the Archdiocese of Cartagena.
A week full of flavours and culture
From 12 to 20 April, locals and visitors alike will be able to enjoy the 15th Festival of Cartagena Sweets and Typical Cartagena Food, a tribute to the ancestral flavours that have sweetened generations. In this edition, the festival acquires a special nuance with the participation of Panama as guest country, sharing its gastronomic, artisan and cultural legacy through talks and exhibitions, which will enrich the experience of the public. The Festival will be held in
