ARCHIVED - 13th and 14th June Romería del Rocio Torrevieja

Program of activities for the 2015 Romería

This year the Romería de la Virgen del Rocío falls on the weekend of the 14th and 15th of June, offering expats the opportunity to enjoy open air singing, dancing and equestrian events and take part in a multicultural family event in the open air.

A Romería is, in essence, the transfer of an image of a saint from one location to another, accompanied by the faithful, but this is Spain, so although these events have an essentially religious core, they soon disintegrate into an opportunity for families and friends to gather together, and enjoy themselves. The Romería consists of walking from one point to another, the distance varying considerably. Many Romerías are over a distance of several kilometres, as in this case, and thousands of people will join in, enjoying the walk, and being part of a mass movement of people. The best known Romería of the Virgen del Rocío is in Huelva, and over a million people will accompany the Virgen on her journey. This Romería is also in honour of the figure of the Virgen del Rocío, and is on a considerably smaller scale, who begins her journey by being transferred from the church of San Roque and Santa Ana to the Iglesia de la Inmaculada, the main parroquial church in Torrevieja on the shoulders of her bearers, accompanied by the Hermandad choir and members of the public on the 13th.

On the 13th those who will accompany her on her journey, many dressed in traditional sevillanas dresses, riding horses or driving in carriages, gather outside the church from 9.30am, ready for a choral mass at 10am, before the Virgen then sets off on her journey, carried by bearers at 11am, all the way out to the municipal camping ground of La Albentosa near the La Mata Laguna. On arrival she is installed in a special tent at 3.30pm, where a floral offering is made, before those who have accompanied her enjoy food with their friends in this large picnic and camping area.

Many families will be staying overnight, so there are activities throughout the afternoon and evening, then at midnight there is a parade around the camping, before campers are woken up at 8am to be offered hot chocolate. Mass follows at 12 midday and more children’s games in the afternoon.

At around 8pm the first leg of the return journey begins back into Torrevieja from Lo Albentosa with all attendees accompanying the Virgen del Rocío to the parroquial church, the Iglesia Parroquia in La Mata, where she will remain until being transferred back to the Iglesia de San Roque y Santa Ana later on.

Those staying overnight tend to be members of the organization running the event at the municipal camping ground, although many general public drive to the camping ground to meet family and friends.
Click for more details about the camping ground Lo Albentosa and where it is

Click for start point of the Romería, the central Iglesia de la Inmaculada if you’d like to go along and join in, or see what’s happening.

There are no special buses bringing walkers back into Torrevieja other than on the regular La Mata-Torrevieja bus service.

Programme of activities:
11th June
20.30: The figure of the Santísima Virgen del Rocío is taken from the church of San Roque and Santa Ana to the Iglesia de la Inmaculada on the shoulders of her bearers, accompanied by the Hermandad choir and members of the public.

13th June
9.30: Riders, carriages and carts gather in the Plaza de la Estación before setting out at 10.00 for the Iglesia de la Inmaculada.
10.00: Choral Mass in the Iglesia de la Inmaculada with the participation of the Hermandad Virgen del Rocío choir accompanied by the Almonte drummers.
11.00:  Following Mass the Virgen del Rocío is presented to the riders, horses and carriages and general public before departing on a route through the streets of Torrevieja, accompanied by the choir and drummers on her way to the Parque de lo Albentosa, carried by her bearers.
Itinerary of the procession: Iglesia de la Inmaculada, Calle Bazán, Avenida Delfina Viudes, Avenida Monge y Bielsa, Calle Eugenio Segarra, Calle César Mateo, Avenida Víctimas del Terrorismo, Sector 25 roundabout, Hospital Quirón roundabout, Parque de Lo Albentosa.
14.30 (approximately): arrival at the “acampada”. The Virgen del Rocio is installed in her tent to receive a floral offering, and the faithful light candles in her honour.
During the afternoon there are various activities, including a gymkhana, a horse-riding skills competition and various musical interludes supplied by the Coro de la Hermandad and others.
20.00: prizes are given to the winners of the various competitions.
24.00: The “La Salve” hymn is sung by the rocieros as they parade around the acampada, and there follows an all-night vigil.

14th June
8.00: the drummers of Almonte sound the wake-up call (“despertá”) and hot chocolate is served to all.
12.00: Open-air Choral Mass accompanied by the drummers
16.00: Children’s activities.
19.30 (approx): The “romeros” set off with the figure of the Santísima Virgen del Rocío for the church of San Roque y Santa Ana, where the final act of this year’s Romería is another singing of the La Salve hymn.