What are you doing this long weekend? |
| Friday, 29 April 2011 00:00 |
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Monday is the biggest day of the festival, known as the Caballos del Vino (the wine horses), during which dozens of horses dressed in elaborate embroidered mantels are run up the hill, through the town, to the sanctuary. Thousands of people pack the streets to watch the horses - and the teams who guide them - thunder past.
And here's a taste!
If you are interested in a private group trip of up to 8 people, call our friends at 4You Murcia - but you had better be quick! Schedule 9.30am - Parade of the penas and wine horses. Midday - The Moors and Christians Pasacalles 1.15pm - Blessing of the wine and the flowers. 2pm - The running of the wine horses in the Cuesta del Castillo. 8.30pm - Simulated combat in the Cuesta del Castillo in which the Moors take the fortress. 9pm - The Vera Cruz - the famous cross of Caravaca - is paraded from its sanctuary in the Basilica to the church of El Salvador, accompanied by the Moors and Christians.
If stampeding horses is not your thing, you might consider a trip to Murcia city on Sunday to 8th annual model boat display being held on an artificial lake on Calle Almela Costa. This year, the organisers have laid on a 'naval catastrophe simulation'. The mind boggles.
Schedule 10am gathering of participants and accreditations, with control frequencies established. 10.15 - Open sailing 11.30 - Launches race 11.45 - Open sailing and model helicopter flights 12.30 - Naval catastrophy show 1pm - Sailing regatta
Entry, as perhaps you might expect, is free. |
In Caravaca de la Cruz - the fifth holiest city in christianity, no less - this weekend is the fiesta weekend (known as the Fiestas de la Vera Cruz). The festival commemorates the legend of the siege of the city by the Moors centuries ago. With water to the city cut off, the Christian knights, sent to fight the Moors in their rearguard, charged through the Moorish army with horses laden with wine to alleviate the thirst of the people in the sanctuary of the castle.