This weekend, Valencia celebrates a festival in honor of its official patron saint, Our Lady of the Forsaken (Mare de Deu dels Desamparats, in Valencian). Here’s a preview of some of the highlights:
Saturday, May 9th
23:00 – Concert by the Municipal Band of Valencia in the Plaza de la Virgen
24:00 – Fireworks in the Turia riverbed, near the Serrano Towers
Following the Fireworks – A grand folk dance in honor of Our Lady in the Plaza de la Virgen
Sunday, May 10th
10:30 – Transfer of the Virgen from her chapel to the city cathedral. This is an ABSOLUTE must-see event. Check out our 2008 experience.
14:00 – Mascletà in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento
18:30 – Solemn procession in the city center (starting at Pl. Virgen, then along Caballeros, Bolsería, Mercado Central, Pl. Reina, ending at Almoina)
Monday, May 11th
20:30 – Ronda a la Verge, which is I think a concert at the Plaza de la Virgen.
All Weekend
Bells: The bells of the Micalet tower will be rung by hand at various hours during the weekend, signifying different things. It starts today from 16:30 to 17:00 to announce the beginning of the festivities.
Bulls: Bullfights on both Saturday and Sunday… because there’s no better way to say “I love you, Holy Virgin” than blood sacrifice!
… and here I was kind of hoping for a quiet weekend.