Basílica de la Macarena

Lonely Planet review

If you're not in Seville for Semana Santa, you can get an inkling of what it's all about at this 1940s church, which is home to the most adored religious image in all of Andalucía, the 17th-century Virgen de la Esperanza (Hope) sculpture. Commonly known simply as La Macarena, she is the patron saint of bullfighters and the city's supreme representation of the grieving yet sanguine mother of Christ.

The power of this fragile, beautiful statue is most evident in the wee hours of the Madrugá (Good Friday) Semana Santa procession. Where she passes, a rain of rose petals falls, and crazed sevillanos shout: '¡Macarena, guapa!' (Beautiful Macarena!). To top it all off a saeta (sacred Andalucian song) is sung, praising the Virgin's beauty.

The church's museum displays the holy lady's rich vestments, plus bullfighters' suits donated by famous matadors, and lavish Semana Santa accoutrements.