In October, Calpe dresses up to celebrate one of the most anticipated festivals of the year: the Moors and Christians. This festival combines the majesty of religious and popular events with a festive atmosphere that attracts both locals and tourists. If you are on the Costa Blanca, you cannot miss it!
Among the most notable events are:
This festivity, which has taken place in Calpe since 1977, combines religious, popular and historical acts with great pomp and circumstance and has proven to be an extraordinary means of promoting the town's tourist attractions and culture.
A week of festivities organized by the Calpe Association of Moors and Christians, with the collaboration of the Festival Committee, that begins with the traditional air bombardment and the ringing of bells which announces the entrance of bands that then parade along Gabriel Miró Avenue to Mosquit Square.
The Great Landing and the First Battle
One of the most anticipated moments is the First Battle, where the Moors and Christians face off in a spectacle that recalls history. This battle takes place on Calpe's Arenal Beach and is a must for visitors.
It's not just adults who enjoy this festival. The little ones also have their space with the children's parade, in which they parade through the streets in their best costumes, feeling part of this great tradition.
The last days are marked by solemnity, the celebration of the “Miracle” in the la Plaza Mayor, "Correfocs" in the Old Part of town, and the Eucharist, also in the Plaza Mayor, in honour of the Santísimo Cristo del Sudor. Once the Mass has ended, the image of Christ is removed to the Church and the "Mascletà" (fireworks display) is then held in Calpe's Plaza Mayor.
Altea
The old town centre of Altea is the setting for the Handicrafts Fair that is held every year in the square in front of the Church in this little Alicante town.
Moraira
On 6 and 22 July Moraira puts on its best party to celebrate its patron saint in honour of the Virgen de los Desamparados (Our Lady of the Unprotected) and the Virgen del Carmen (the Virgin of Mount Carmel): street parties, processions, concerts, floral offerings or mascletás (firecrackers) fill the much loved celebration with colour and fun.
Dénia
The quintessential party of the town of Dénia, which has now been adopted by other nearby towns in the Valencia region. The fact is that the bullfighting tradition and the Mediterranean Sea make the perfect match in the summertime.
