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December 3 to 8 Annual fiestas in the Caravaca village of Archivel
Plenty of hearty warm food in the high plateau of Caravaca as the December fiestas come to Archivel!
The village of Archivel in the high ground of the municipality of Caravaca de la Cruz is holding its annual fiestas in honour of Santa Barbara between 3rd and 8th December, spanning the long holiday weekend and including activities for all ages related to culture, gastronomy, religion and leisure.
On 4th December, the Feast Day of the patron, there is a traditional floral offering and of course the procession of a figure representing Saint Barbara, while other highlights include concerts and a local tapas route.
The schedule for the weekend includes the following:
Wednesday December 3
20.00: Local meat products are served in the Salón Social, followed by live copla music with Verónica Lozano and then traditional dancing.
22.30: A competition to see who makes the best “chapurrao” and coffee liqueur, with a prize for the winner!
Thursday December 4
9.30: The official firecracker starts the fiestas, followed by a musical parade through the village.
10.00: The church bells are tolled.
12.00: Floral offering to Santa Bárbara, followed by Mass and a float parade.
19.00: A procession features the figures of Santa Bárbara and the Virgen de la Esperanza, with music from the town band of Caravaca and an impressive firework display.
Friday December 5
12.00: Cold beer for all in the main square.
14.00: A giant paella at the “muralla”.
19.30: The traditional “Carrera de cintas”, a test of dexterity on bikes or horses!
22.30: Musical parade in the streets.
23.45: A treat to warm yourself up now that the cold December evenings are here, with the migas competition in the Salón Social. The music lasts right through until the early hours!
Saturday December 6
10.30: The figure of Santa Bárbara is taken in a Romería from the church to Campo de Arriba.
13.00: Holy Mass.
14.00: More hearty food in the shape of a stew!
16.00: Santa Bárbara returns from her trip on the shoulders of the faithful.
19.00: Winter Festival Archivel, a night of DJ music!
21.00: Roast potatoes and garlic for all in the main square. Both children and adults compete to see who makes the best garlic mayonnaise!
Sunday December 7
11.00: Children’s play area with bouncy castles, face-painting and the like.
12.00: Firewood is collected for the evening bonfire.
14.30: Tapas route in the Salón Social, snack and a small beer for just 2 euros!
17.00: Live music from The F&V Band.
20.00: The bonfire is lit to prepare dinner for everyone in the Plaza!
22.00: Bingo, followed by fireworks.
Monday December 8, the national holiday to mark the Day of the Immacuilate Conception
9.30: Musical parade in the streets.
10.00: The church bells are tolled.
12.00: An offering of food is made before Mass, which is followed by a float parade.
18.00: Glow Party, with guest DJS.
20.00: The final firework display marks the end of the fiestas!
For more local events, news and visiting information contact the local tourist office (telephone 968 702424) or go to the home page of Caravaca Today.
Address
Calle De Las Monjas, 19, 30400 CARAVACA DE LA CRUZTel: 968 702424 / 968 701003
Oficina de Turismo de Caravaca de la Cruz
More information about the places of interest which can be visited in the municipality of Caravaca de la Cruz, along with what's on and local news can be found in the Caravaca Today.
Caravaca de la Cruz, in the north-west of the Region of Murcia, is one of only 5 Holy Cities in the Roman Catholic world, a centre of pilgrimage, along with Rome, Jerusalem, Santiago de Compostela and Santo Toribio de Liebana, and is home to the Cross of Caravaca, the Vera Cruz.
The status of Holy City was bestowed by Pope John Paul II in 1998, granting the City a Permanent Jubilee year every 7 years for perpetuity, the first one held in 2003 and the next in 2024.
The strategic and natural advantages of Caravaca de la Cruz have attracted the attention of settlers for more than 800,000 years, the Cueva Negra yielding remains of Homo Heidelbergensis, forbears of the Neanderthals and the municipality also houses important archaeological remains from the Argaric, Iberian and Roman cultures. many of these can be seen in the Municipal Archaeological Museum.
As a border town caught between the Catholic forces of Castille and the last remaining Moorish stronghold in Spain, Granada, Caravaca had a turbulent medieval history, but it was during this period that the legend of the Cross of Caravaca was born, bringing the religious orders which shaped the structure of Caravaca today, with its impressive hilltop castle and eclectic collection of churches and monasteries, religious tourism today being a backbone of the town´s economy.
Caravaca de la Cruz is a municipality with important natural resources, including extensive forests, part of which have protected status due to their wealth of flora and fauna, and due to the abundant water supplies is also a major area for canned fruit production, apricots in particular being an important crop.
Caravaca is renown for its important May Fiestas, held in honour of the Vera Cruz, which also incorporate the Moors and Christians celebrations and the Running of the Wine Horses.
Caravaca de la Cruz is also the home of Europe´s largest collection of ethnic instruments at Barranda, the Museo de Música Étnica Barranda and is the location of the Barranda festival de Cuadrillas, which celebrates the Region's ethnic music traditions.
The municipality is home to around 26,000 inhabitants and shares boundaries with Moratalla, Cehegín, Lorca, Puebla de Don Fadrique in the province of Granada and Vélez-Blanco in the province of Almería.
Opening times:
Weekdays: 10.00 to 14.00 and 16.30 to 19.30
Saturdays: 10.30 to 14.00 and 16.30 to 19.30
Sundays and public holidays: 10.30 to 14.00
Click for map, Caravaca de la Cruz Tourist Office
