ARCHIVED - 6th-15th October Moors and Christians Fiestas El Campello, Alicante

The Moors and Christians festival returns with gunfire, fireworks and medieval music

The Moors and Christians Festival is taking place in El Campello in Alicante province between the 6^th and 15^th October to commemorate the battles, fights and combats between the Christians and the Moors during the Reconquista period in Spain. The festival is a historical re-enactment of the Moors invading the city followed by the Christian re-conquest, with those participating in the festivals parading in Medieval-style costumes.

The event is particularly well known for its parades, loud fireworks and gunpowder displays that take place around the castle and along the beach.

Venue: 

(All of the events take place at or near to the castle Torre de La Illeta and the playa del Carrer de la Mar)

Torre de la Illeta

Click for map, Torre de la Illeta

Playa del Carrer de la Mar

Click for map, Playa del Carrer de la Mar

Start time: 18:00

Entry: Free

Festival Programme

Thursday 6^th October

18:00 Free entry into the Castillo festero (castle) (next to the Ayuntamiento)

Friday 7th October

18:00 Free entry into the Castillo festero (castle) (next to the Ayuntamiento)

Saturday 8^th October

17:00 Opening of the Medieval market in Plaza de la Constitución and surrounding streets

19:45 Musical gathering with the Dulzainas and drumming groups in the casco antiguo, meeting at the Ayuntamiento

24:00 Devils and demons fire parade starting at the estación de FGV and going towards Plaza Saint Christol Les Alez (Ayuntamiento) in Calle Generalitat

Sunday 9^th October

09:00 Bell ringing to start the day

10:45 Cristiana-Mora children’s parade and historical representation of the Valencian Conquest, starting from calle del Doctor Fleming and going towards the castle.

11:30 Civic march to celebrate the Pennon of the Conquest

12:30 Popular dance performance with the group Salpassa in calle de Pal, followed by the Mocadorà de Sant Dionís tradition where men give women handkerchiefs filled with sweets

Tuesday 11^th October

18:00 Montage of the Christian and Moors camps in playa del Carrer de la Mar

23:00 Parade of the heralds, captains and leaders from el Centro Social in Avenida de la Estación

23:30 The announcing of the fiestas and hymn singing in the Castillo festero (castle)

24:00 Singing of the Albaes and Salva a la Virgin de los Desamparados in the Iglesia Parroquia de Santa Teresa

Wednesday 12^th October

07:00 Sighting of the moorish fleet, fire burning and bell ringing with enactment of the Moors raiding the Christian camps

07:30 Moorish troups embark the fishing docks

07:45 The Christian troops defend themselves in the sea battle with the Moors’ fleet

08:00  Disembarkation of the vanguard with firearms in playa del Carrer de La Mar

08:15 Arrival of the Christian Captain with his Christian troops to defend

08:30 The Moorish captain disembarks with his army

08:45 Confrontation between the Moors and the Christians with fights on horseback, on foot and with firearms

09:15 The battle continues in the Torre de la Illeta with firearms

17:30 Musical bands parade from the castle towards the Avenida Generalitat

19:00 Cristiana-Mora parades in the Avenida de la Generalitat

Thursday 13^th October

08:30 Mora-cristiana show with firearms towards the Castillo festero (castle)

09:00 Diana Festera parade throughout the streets

11:00 The moors troops battle in the castle

19:00 Moors and Christians head to the Avenida de la Generalitat

24:00 Street parades in the city centre

Friday 14^th October

08:30 Cristiana-mora show of firearms fired towards the castle

09:00 Diana Festera street parades

11:30 Cristiana battle and the ‘entradeta festera’ march from the castle

20:00 Fiesta parades reach the Avenida de la Generalitat  

Saturday 15^th October

08:00 Bell ringing and day awakening

11:00 A Mass is held in honour of Santa Teresa of the parish church

12:00 Festival assembly for offerings of flowers and fruit to the Virgin de los Desamparados

14:00 Great ‘Mascletà’ fireworks and firecrackers display in honour of Santa Teresa in the Avenida Ausías March

20:00 Parade accompanied by the Captains and the festival bands from the Plaza de la Iglesia, ending with a fireworks display from the castle in honour of la patrona la Virgen de los Desamparados in Avenida Ausías March