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Until August 31 Fiestas de San Bartolomé in Cieza

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A fortnight of festivities in Cieza to celebrate the devotion to the patron saint of the town

Until August 31 Fiestas de San Bartolomé in Cieza Festivities to celebrate the Patron Saint’s day of Cieza, San Bartolomé, take place annually in the last week of August (the Saint’s Feast Day is on August 24), with many activities and events to entertain both locals and visitors.

Cieza started life in its current format in the middle of the 13th century, following the Christian Reconquista, and records show that the first fairs took place in the 14th century.

The devotion to San Bartolome dates from the late 15th century and records from 1579 show that this devotion was well-established by the last quarter of the century. The popularity of the saint continued to grow during the following two centuries, aided by reports of miracles.

The fiestas in something resembling their present form began in the 19th century, taking place from the 16th to the 23^rd, followed by the celebrations of Saint Bartolome on the 24th August. At this point bull runs in the streets were very popular, but in 1755 these were stopped by the Crown due to the number of accidents that regularly took place. It took 40 years of pressure from the townspeople before the monarch would agree to reinstate the custom, the loclas claiming they deserved this privilege after a year of hard toil. Finally they were granted three bull runs during the San Bartolome festivities as long as they were not “bulls or cows of death.”

In recent times, the fair and festivities in honour of Saint Bartolomé have become one of the most important and popular in the Region of Murcia whilst at the same time ancient traditions have been resurrected. The traditional Misa Huertana (country mass) was started in 1984 at the Basílica de la Asunción and involves participants dressed in traditional regional dress making a floral and fruit offering to the patron.

The program for the 2023 fiestas includes the following:

Tuesday August 15

20.30: The procession of the figure of San Bartolomé from his church to the Plaza Mayor.

21.30: Concert by the local Town Band in the Plaza Mayor.

Friday August 18

20.30: Parade of groups participating in the 32^nd annual international folk festival, with representatives from Bolivia, Ecuador, North Macedonia and the Spanish region of Castilla-La Mancha as well as the local Cieza group.

21.00: Performance by the participating groups in the Plaza de España.

Saturday August 19

21.00: Folk festival performances at the Teatro Capitol. Tickets 8 euros available from the tourist office in Plaza de España.

Sunday August 20

21.00: Folk festival performances at the Teatro Capitol. Tickets 8 euros available from the tourist office in Plaza de España.

Monday August 21

20.30: Free concert at the Casa de las Artes y la Música.

Wednesday August 23

20.15: Free concert at the Casa de las Artes y la Música.

Wednesday August 23

19.00: Parade of Giants and Big Heads starting in the Plaza Mayor.

22.00: Firework display at the Arenal del Río.

23.00: An ABBA tribute show in the Plaza de España. No admission charge.

Thursday August 24

8.00: Musical street parade with the town music society, starting at the Esquina del Convento.

19.00: Traditional musical Mass at the Basílica de la Asunción.

20.00: Traditional “huertana” procession starting at the Basílica de la Asunción.

23.00: Free concert with Mojinos Escozíos in the Plaza de España.

Friday August 25

22.00: Free concert by the Cieza music society in the Plaza Mayor.

23.00: Free Retropop concert in the Plaza Mayor.

Saturday August 26

22.00: An anthology of “zarzuela” light opera music at the Teatro Capitol. Tickets 15 and 18 euros available at the box office or at giglon.com.

Sunday August 27

12.00: Crazy car race staring at the Esquina del Convento.

19.00: Float parade. Route: Av. Giménez Castellanos, Paseo J. Antonio Camacho, Gran Vía, Camino de Murcia, Esquina del Convento, Paseo.

22.00: Choral concert featuring the Ars Nova choir at the Teatro Capitol. Tickets 3 euros from the box office or at giglon.com.

23.00: Free live concert with Natalia and Kike Ruiz in the Plaza de España.

Monday August 28

20.00: Mary Poppins musical at the Teatro Capitol. Tickets 5 euros from the box office or at giglon.com.

Tuesday August 29

One-day tapas route at the bars and restaurants of Cieza: Bar Pintxame, Bar Venus, Asador El Quijote, Bar Altea, Bar Nacional, Telepizza, Bar La Plaza, Bar Cenaculo, Bar Umea, Bar Parada Beer, Bar Abrevadero de Patos, Venta el Jinete, Bar Bokao, Cafetería Cafetin La Sala, Cafetería New Sirocco and Confitería Las Delicias.

23.00: Free concert by Orquesta La Mundial in the Plaza de España.

Wednesday August 30

20.00: Free pasodobles concert in the Plaza de España.

Thursday August 31

20.00: Mass to honour the deceased at the Basílica de la Asunción.

20.30: The final procession of the figure of San Bartolomé and the blessing of the fields.

22.00: Free concert, Miami Show in the Plaza de España.

1.00: Final fireworks in the Paseo.

Note: The box office of the Teatro Capitol is open in Calle Pablo Iglesias on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9.30 to 11.30.

For more upcoming events in the Region of Murcia go to the What’s on section of Murcia Today.

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Oficina de Turismo de Cieza

Cieza tourist office

The tourist information office of Cieza is located in the centre of the town, in the Plaza de España, opposite the Mercado de Abastos, the historical market place which is still open today and provides an attractive focal point for local daily life.

Cieza Tourist Office

Although it is enjoyable and interesting to follow an urban route around the town and visit the Museo Siyasa, the three major historical sites which are well worth visiting in Cieza are not open to the general public on an open visit basis and a guide is required for the Cueva de Serreta, Molino de Teodoro and Medina Siyasa itself.

Cieza Tourist Office

Visits can be arranged with an English speaking guide for groups, so contact the Tourist office directly to arrange these. An urban walking route can be followed using a map of the town which can be picked up from the Tourist Office directly.

Throughout the year there are several walking routes which can be followed in the fruit orchards, along the Cieza Tourist Office river’s edge and in the valleys of the area surrounding the town, and canoeing and rafting activities on the River Segura can also be arranged via the Tourist Office.

Cieza is particularly famous for its “floración”, the time when the peach orchards are in full blossom, and various walking routes are prepared for nature lovers or photographers to take advantage of the spectacular views on offer. Cieza is also renowned for its Fiestas: Semana Santa, Carnival, Romería de la Virgen del Buen Suceso, Auto de Los Reyes Magos, Fiestas del Escudo and Fiestas in honour of San Bartolomé, as well as the Ermita del Santo Cristo del Consuelo and Mercadillo de los Frailes.

There is parking directly in front of the Tourist Office in Cieza town centre and the urban walking route begins Cieza Tourist Office at this point. The Tourist office will also advise on local accommodation or restaurants.

For full information about Cieza in English, including what’s on and seasonal activities, click through to the Cieza section, accessed via the map box at the bottom of every page or search Cieza using the town search box at the top of every page.

Opening times: Monday to Friday 8.00 to 15.00.

Click for map, Cieza Tourist Office.