Spring in Nerja: Local Life and Easter Energy
After a wet, windy and colder-than-usual winter, we are more than ready for the sunnier, warmer days that arrived at the end of February.
On bright afternoons it almost feels like beach weather. Not quite high summer, but perfect for sitting outside cafés and chiringuitos, sunglasses on, coffee in hand. Some brave souls are already fully beach ready - though most locals still keep a jacket close by. Evenings remain crisp, early mornings still call for layers, but once the sun rises high enough you naturally search for a sunny corner and simply soak it in after a longer winter than usual.
Up in the mountains, it’s a different world altogether. The snow up in Sierra Nevada has been spectacular this season. Rarely have we seen so much of it. Stunning, busy and full of life. The beauty of living here is that you can enjoy snow-covered peaks one day and coastal sunshine the next.
Back along our coastline, the river continues to flow after months of rain - a reassuring sight and a hopeful sign that water reserves are healthier as we head towards summer.
Across the Axarquía, spring is quietly unfolding. Almond trees are at peak bloom, painting hillsides in soft white and pale pink. Trees are flowering, promising early summer fruit. Wildflowers are beginning to appear along country paths and roadside edges, and the landscape is still wonderfully green from the winter rains. There’s a freshness in the air that only March brings.
Mid-month, the Spring Equinox arrives, marking the official shift into longer days and a new seasonal balance. Day and night stand equal for a brief moment before light gradually takes the lead. It is a subtle but powerful turning point. The sun sits higher, evenings stretch further, and there is a renewed sense of energy in daily life. Gardens awaken more confidently, outdoor living resumes, and plans for the months ahead begin to take shape.
And then, there is Easter.
This year, Semana Santa begins on 29th March, and the final days of the month mark the start of one of the most important and powerful weeks in the Andalusian calendar. Easter celebrations are not small here. They are deeply rooted, emotional and widely embraced across Nerja and all parts of the Axarquía.
Throughout the week, streets will fill with processions, music and tradition. Locals prepare all year for these days. The atmosphere shifts - part reverence, part community gathering, part cultural spectacle. Whether you observe from a balcony, stand quietly in a plaza, or follow a procession through narrow streets, it is something you feel rather than simply watch.
In villages across the Axarquía, from coastal towns to inland whitewashed streets, Semana Santa is equally significant. Each place brings its own character and history to the celebrations, but the sense of devotion and shared experience is the same.
As April continues, Easter week flows into fuller spring. Days grow noticeably longer, terraces stay busy later into the evening, and beach walks slowly turn into proper beach afternoons. Visitors begin to arrive in greater numbers, chiringuitos find their rhythm again, and the Mediterranean light feels brighter and more assured.
March and April therefore become months of contrast and anticipation.
Snow and blossom. Crisp mornings and warm afternoons. Flowing rivers and blooming hillsides. The balance of the equinox. And a week that carries deep tradition and meaning.
It is not yet summer.
It is no longer winter.
It is that beautiful in-between season — and around Nerja, it feels very special indeed.