Santuario Nuestra Señora del Rocío, en Andalucia

History

The pilgrimage to the Virgen del Rocío (Almonte, Huelva) has its origins in the reign of Alfonso XI, who recorded the appearance of the image of the Virgen del Rocío in the Libro de la Montería. The first reference to the Sanctuary of the Virgen del Rocío appears in the 14th century.

The El Rocío pilgrimage is the most famous in the region, attracting nearly a million people from across Andalucia and the entire country, and beyond. Every Andalucian city, town and village has its own pilgrimages, for its patron saint, virgin or other much-loved local figure, but the El Rocio has cult status, and is the most important and most colourful. It follows on from Semana Santa (March/April), and the various spring ferias, of which Seville's Feria de Abril (April) is the biggest.

Path and landscape description

The most typical way of doing the pilgrimage is on horseback, in one of the carretas (decorated wagons) or on foot, journeying through the marshlands and sleeping out in the open air. On Sunday night no-one sleeps in anticipation of being able to enter the church and join in the procession of the Blanca Paloma (White Dove), by which the Virgin of El Rocío is known. The most exciting moment of all is the salto (leap), when the people of the nearby town of Almonte enter the shrine, leaping over the railings, and lead their Virgin in procession through the village.

Although all roads lead to El Rocío at Whitsuntide, there are several routes to choose from (https://www.andalucia.org/en/discover-us/art-culture-and-traditions/el-rocio/making-journey):

• The Sanlúcar Route: crosses the Doñana Nature Reserve and runs from the mouth of the Guadalquivir River, at Bajo de Guía in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, all the way to the village El Rocío. This is a beautiful route for nature lovers to enjoy. An added highlight is watching the simpecados (banners), carts and horsemen and women across the estuary in the boats ferry.
• The Moguer Route: taken by pilgrims from Huelva on their way to El Rocío.
• Los Llanos Route: the oldest of all the routes, it starts in Almonte.
• The Sevillano Route: runs through Gelo, Marlo, el Quema, Villamanrique de la Condesa, La Raya Real, Palacio and El Ajolí, at the entrance to the village. Landmarks that are imbued with tradition, evocations, memories, hopes and intensity.

Websites

https://www.andalucia.org/en/el-rocio

https://www.andalucia.com/festival/rocio.htm

E-Mail

turismo.almonte@gmail.com

Starting location

Doñana Nature Reserve/ Huelva/ Almonte/ Sevilla

Final destination

El Rocío