Antigua Guatemala is famous for its vibrant, elaborate religious festivities during the Antigua Semana Santa, or Holy Week, leading up to Easter. Thousands of national and international visitors crowd the cobblestoned streets to watch the costumed processions, reenactments of the crucifixion, and other ceremonies.
The most awe-inspiring part of Antigua's Semana Santa, however, are the brilliant carpets, or "alfombras". Sand or sawdust is used to level the cobblestones, and is dyed different colors and interwoven with bright flowers, other plants, and pine needles. The result is designs so intricate, it seems tragic when the processions pass over and trample them!
View these beautiful carpets and other images of the Antigua Guatemala Semana Santa in this Holy Week gallery by James Foley.
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- An Intricate Alfombra
- Another Beautiful Carpet
- Up Close and Personable
- Christian Soldier
- The Religious Procession
- Semana Santa Musicians
- Female Holy Week Procession Members
- Closeup on a Multicolored Carpet
- Antigua Guatemala's Holy Week
- After the Procession
- Floral Carpet at Semana Santa
- Costumed Holy Week Musicians
- Graphic Index
- Text Index