‘Easter Week in La Laguna would be unthinkable without the tireless work of the Board of Brotherhoods and without the involvement of each of the brotherhoods,’ said the Councillor for Tourism, Estefanía Díaz, who also stressed that “thanks to them, every year La Laguna becomes a destination that offers a unique experience where faith, art, history and Canarian identity merge”.
Every year, thousands of people flock to the historic centre of the city, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, to watch the processions that take place in its streets. Centuries-old images, floats of incalculable artistic value and a staging that combines seclusion, solemnity and beauty make Holy Week in La Laguna one of the most admired in the archipelago.
The thrones advance among bugles and incense. Silence becomes a voice of devotion. Everything is measured down to the last detail thanks to the efforts of the brotherhoods, who dedicate months of preparation so that everything is carried out with the dignity that a celebration of this magnitude deserves. The coordination of timetables, the conservation of the sacred heritage, the cleaning of tunics, the preparation of banners and lanterns, the care of the itineraries or the training of the new generations of bearers are just some of the invisible tasks that allow the Semana Santa to be lived with the intensity that characterises it.
‘The Junta de Hermandades y Cofradías not only organises Holy Week. It sustains it, takes care of it, makes it grow. And it does so with an enormous responsibility and with an admirable dedication that must be recognised and applauded’, adds Estefanía Díaz.
The awarding of the Tenerife Nordeste 2025 prize to the body that brings together the brotherhoods and sisterhoods of La Laguna not only recognises this dedication, but also reinforces the role of this celebration as a tool for boosting tourism and culture. Easter Week in La Laguna attracts visitors from all over the Canary Islands and the rest of the country, interested not only in the religious component, but also in the heritage, music, gastronomy and tradition that surrounds each procession.
The Town Hall insists that this type of distinction helps to make visible a work that is often silent but essential to keep alive the traditions that give meaning and character to the city. Traditions that form part of a shared identity, but which also open the door to new audiences in search of authentic cultural experiences.
A celebration with international projection
This recognition comes in a particularly symbolic year for La Laguna, which has been admitted as a member of the World Religious Tourism Network, an international platform promoted by the Tourism and Society Think Tank for the global promotion of places with relevant heritage and spiritual traditions.
The membership was formalised at the International Tourism Fair (FITUR), and represents a milestone in the municipality's strategy to consolidate itself as a reference destination in the field of religious and cultural tourism.
‘Joining this network allows us to take another step forward in our strategy to consolidate ourselves as a destination of international reference, not only for our heritage, but also for our ability to innovate and connect with a demanding public,’ said Estefanía Díaz during the presentation of the certificate.
The councillor emphasised that the network's distinctive seal will give greater visibility to La Laguna's religious festivities, such as its Holy Week, as well as to all the spaces and traditions linked to spirituality: the Sanctuary of Christ, the church of La Concepción, the convent of Santa Catalina, the museum of Santa Clara, and the valuable legacy of sacred imagery that is displayed in each processional procession.
Living tradition, shared identity
Holy Week in La Laguna is today much more than a date in the liturgical calendar. It is a cultural, spiritual and artistic experience. A meeting place for believers and visitors. An intergenerational legacy that has managed to adapt without losing its essence.
Thanks to the involvement of the Junta de Hermandades y Cofradías and the commitment of the brotherhoods, La Laguna projects an image of an open, cultured and spiritual city that honours its roots without renouncing a future full of opportunities.
The City Council, in tune with this vision, continues to work to reinforce the value of this celebration as part of an integral tourist offer, based on authenticity, sustainability and respect for heritage.
‘We are fortunate to have a unique Easter Week, deeply ours, but with a universal vocation. Our obligation as an administration is to accompany, support and make visible those who make it possible, such as the Junta de Hermandades y Cofradías’, concludes Estefanía Díaz.
