The municipality of Manilva is getting ready to celebrate the traditional festivities in honour of the Virgen del Carmen, patron saint of sailors. Over the coming days, San Luis de Sabinillas and El Castillo de la Duquesa will once again become the setting for a celebration in which faith, tradition and a festive, maritime atmosphere come together around one of the most cherished images among local residents.
As every year, the most eagerly awaited moment will be the meeting of the two images of the Virgen del Carmen at sea, a unique tradition that turns the Manilva coastline into a spectacular scene full of boats of all kinds accompanying the images. From both areas, the respective processions will set off for their embarkation points, where the images will sail out to meet off the coast, accompanied by numerous decorated boats and followed from land by hundreds of residents and visitors.
The celebration, deeply tied to the municipality’s seafaring past, keeps its essence intact from generation to generation, a tradition that has been kept alive year after year thanks to the effort, humility and enthusiasm of the various brotherhoods.
Two processions, one shared devotion
Castillo de la Duquesa
The day will begin with the traditional dawn music (dianas) and street parades, followed by the Santa Misa Rociera (Rociera Holy Mass) in honour of the patron saint of sailors at the Parroquia de Nuestra Señora del Carmen.
Afterwards, the image will be carried through the streets of Castillo accompanied by the Municipal Band of Music until it reaches Puerto de la Duquesa, where it will be taken aboard to begin the maritime procession in search of the Virgen del Carmen of Sabinillas.
The festive programme will continue in the evening with a performance by the renowned Seville artist Manuel Orta, followed by the group Planeta 80, while on Saturday 18 July the activities will conclude with traditional games, a moraga (beach barbecue) and performances by Vértigo Show and Compás Flamenco.
San Luis de Sabinillas
In Sabinillas, the programme will begin with Holy Mass in Plaza Costa del Sol, followed by the crowning of the Queens and the Junior and Children’s Ladies of Honour.
At 20:00 the eagerly awaited procession of the Virgen del Carmen will take place. The image will be taken aboard to travel along the municipality’s coastline and meet the image coming from Castillo de la Duquesa.
The day will end with a large open-air party enlivened by the groups Latidos and Compás Flamenco, as well as resident DJ Pájaro.
The sea takes centre stage
One of the most moving moments of the celebration will once again be the maritime procession. Dozens of boats will accompany both images along their route across the Mediterranean, while the sound of the sirens and a sea full of vessels create a scene full of symbolism that each year brings together thousands of people on the municipality’s beaches.
Tradition, culture and community
As well as the religious events, the Fiestas de la Virgen del Carmen offer a wide programme designed for all audiences, including:
- Religious events and processions.
- Live music.
- Open-air party.
- Children’s activities.
- Traditional games.
- Community moraga.
- Musical shows.
The Fiestas de la Virgen del Carmen are one of the great symbols of Manilva’s identity, a celebration that brings together seafaring tradition, popular culture and community spirit.
Programme:
San Luis de Sabinillas – Thursday 16 July
12:00 Holy Mass in honour of the Virgen del Carmen in Plaza Costa del Sol, sung by the Choir of the Municipal Music School.
13:00 Crowning of the Queens and the Junior and Children’s Ladies of Honour.
20:00 Procession of the Virgen del Carmen and embarkation to travel along the coastline and meet the image from Castillo de la Duquesa.
22:30 Performances by Latidos, Compás Flamenco and DJ Pájaro.
Castillo de la Duquesa – Thursday 16 July
08:00 Lively dawn music and street parades with the Charanga de Cádiz.
18:30 Santa Misa Rociera and subsequent procession to Puerto de la Duquesa for the embarkation of the Virgin.
22:30 Performance by Manuel Orta.
Followed by a concert by Planeta 80.
Castillo de la Duquesa – Saturday 18 July
11:00 Traditional games in Plaza Miramar.
19:00 Moraga in Parque del Huerto.
22:00 Performances by Vértigo Show and Compás Flamenco.
