The Romeria de la Virgin Saliente
The Romeria de la Virgin Saliente, takes place every year on the 7th/8th September. (A Romería is a Spanish religious pilgrimage. The word “Romería” comes from “romero”, meaning those travelling towards Rome. It is a Catholic celebration that consists of a trip or peregrination that ends at a sanctuary or hermitage. It is not necessarily always a trip, but in some cases a celebration that lasts all day long.)
The pilgrimage, which attracts thousands of people from all over Spain, sets out from Albox. Many cover the entire 18 kilometres to the Saliente Monastery during the course of the night, while others choose to undertake the shorter pilgrimage up the steep path to the 1500m summit and the Monastery. Some choose to go bare foot or on their knees. As many as 15,000 people take part in the pilgrimage with most carrying candles making it a wondrous site.
In recent years many younger people have attended the pilgrimage. Although the religeous significance of the pilgrimage is still respected, the younger people bring more of a party atmosphere to the celebration with firecrackers and fireworks being set off along the way.
