Semana Santa in Mompós

For one of the most unforgettable Semana Santa experiences in Colombia, head straight to Mompós. Not only are the parades austere in their religious significance and the floats ornate, but the willingness of the people to be involved and pitch in is legendary. Nazarene pilgrims dressed in heavy smocks sweat uncontrollably in the heat as they jostle for favorable positions underneath the weighty religious artifacts. Whole families parade to the old cemetery to light candles and place them on the tombs of their dear departed while a band plays a somber tune.

Later in the week, budding artists decorate the streets in chalk and sawdust etchings of religious figures and events, only to later see them destroyed underfoot by yet another procession. Coming to Mompós at any time of year is special but it is doubly so during this period, when you have the opportunity to see the seven immaculate churches in all their pomp and majesty, and to observe one of Colombia’s best-preserved sites at its finest.