La Morenica returns to Murcia

The Virgen de la Fuensanta will stay in the Cathedral until April 21st

The patrona of Murcia, the Virgen de la Fuensanta resides for most of the year in the Sanctuary of La Fuensanta, a distinctive twin-towered church which stands out from the green of the El Valle natural park which surrounds it, and is clearly visible driving down into Murcia on the motorway.

However, twice a year she leaves the peace and beauty of these tranquil surroundings to make the journey down into the city below, accompanied by thousands of people on a 7km walk.

On the second Thursday after Ash Wednesday she descends to spend Easter and the Fiestas de la Primavera in the city before returning to her sanctuary on the 21st April and this year all those who accompanied her enjoyed a superb winter’s day, the temperature in the capital still 19 degrees at 9pm as she was safely positioned inside the cathedral.

She left her sanctuary at 3pm, bells ringing out as she was carried outside wearing a stunning gold and purple cloak gifted to the church in 1990 by Modas Gelen, the throne dressed with suitably matching pink, purple and white flowers, the scent of incense mingling with the heady aroma of stocks, which were strongly visible in amongst the floral display.

From here she descended down the steep twisting path just below the sanctuary before heading down into Algezares and the straight road through the outlying urban districts of the city. En-route she gathered yet more followers, pausing from time to time to bathe in showers of petals, thrown from the windows of the houses en-route, the final shower from above the chapel of Cristo de la Sangre in the iglesia del Carmen as she reached the inner core of the city. Greeted by the regional authorities she was carried inside the church and officially received by the dignitaries and Bishop of Cartagena José Manuel Lorca Planes, before the Salve was sung and she once again resumed her journey to the Cathedral.

Thousands of people packed the streets between the two buildings as she crossed the River Segura before finally entering the Cathedral where after mass her robe was changed for another, this time a purple cloak donated by the silk sector in 1929.

Murcia was formerly a major silk producer and the Baroque churches which are so characteristic of Murcia City were paid for during the peak of silk production in the 18th century.

“La Morenica” as she is fondly known by the people of the city, will remain in the Cathedral throughout Easter and the Fiestas de Primavera which follow directly afterwards.

On the 6th April a large-scale floral offering will take place, many of the participants in regional costume, an event well worth attending for visitors, before finally returning to her sanctuary on 21st April, although this time it’s uphill.

These Romerías are such an enjoyable experience and on Thursday the weather was glorious for a walk from the suburbs into the city. It was almost too hot, even though the route was all downhill and this particular Romería is less well attended than her second trip down into the city for the Autumn fair, which makes it more comfortable as there is more space to walk and it’s easier to park!

Give it a try one year, it’s a glorious themed walk and a thoroughly enjoyable experience.