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Seeing a Fraternity.-

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To see a Fraternity may seem an easy task: the procession takes place all over the city and at any one point outside the Official Route you can go and have a look. However, you should keep a few things in mind.

Firstly, a lot of the Fraternities parade through narrow streets in the old quarter. Some of them deliberately go through the most picturesque nooks and crannies possible. The passing of the floats through incomparable places is essential to the composition of this work of art, as the city becomes the setting for the culmination of the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ.

A Float, illuminating with Its candles a small hidden square in Seville, the spectacular work of the team of costaleros who parade the floats through the narrow streets without any problem, and the encircling sound of a Fraternity march in a narrow street are basic elements of the highlights of the week. Getting to these places requires certain skill for the inexperienced, it is not difficult to get lost in the maze of streets in the old part of Seville, even the locals do. The best sport, or at least the best known ones, to see a Fraternity quickly fill up with crowds (see crowds).

It is not always a good idea to stand through a whole procession. Some of the Fraternities take two hours or more to go by (from the Cruz de Guía to the music band that usually accompanies the floats). An experience like this could put your back and your feet out of action for the rest of the day. Of course, you always have the alternative of renting a chair somewhere along the Official Route (see chairs).

Tips for seeing the Fraternities.

Before starting your day at the processions, you should plan what you want to see and where. You can them very this according.

Don't bee too ambitious to see everything. Keep in mind that this is very difficult and almost impossible. The motto is: "Quality before quantity". Think of the time that you will be either standing or walking keeping in mind your age and physical fitness. Make as many tops as necessary (or more) at the wonderful all-night sidewalks cafés and bars dotted throughout the city.

Although a lot of people do, it is not advisable to follow the processions of floats by standing in front of them. This is uncomfortable for you (you can be stood on , pushed, elbowed…) and it is unfair not only to those who are watching the Fraternities form the sides, but to the actual float which will find it difficult to get past.

Ask the people from Seville for information whenever you want. Most of them will be only delighted to advice visitors on the most interesting places and moments of each day.

In order to see in detail the artistic treasure of the floats, banners and the other elements which form part of the procession, the wisest thing to do is to visit the respective temples on the morning of the day they are going to parade.

Photos: Francisco Santiago@

Conocer Sevilla 2004 - Francisco Santiago©