Romería de la Bella (religious pilgrimage of La Bella)

This romería takes place every second weekend of May. It is a celebration in genuine Andalusian style during which the inhabitants dress themselves up in the typical dress, accompanied by horses, manolas and traps. The proceedings start on the first Saturday of May with the horsemen transferring the Standard from the Hermitage of La Bella, near El Terrón, to the parish of Santo Dominic in Lepe. On the next Friday, after the canopy of fireworks, a multitudinous floral offering is celebrated all afternoon that attracts thousands of dressed up faithful in their typical dress, either on foot, on horseback or on carriages to deliver Our Lady de La Bella her offering. The next day, on Saturday afternoon, the inhabitants of Lepe transfer their patron saint in her carriage pulled by oxen from the village to the hermitage, where she will remain until Monday afternoon. The pilgrims accompany the Virgin on foot, on horseback or carriages the whole way. This is an explosion of joy, dance, prayers, promises, song... Around the old ruins of the monastery a splendid procession village has been erected, full of stands and provisional houses built according to the popular building standards. In this surrounding more than a hundred thousand people come together during the romería. Until the following Monday the days pass in an atmosphere of harmony between the inhabitants and foreigners as chants and dances typical of the area, as well as visits and signs of affection towards the Virgin liven up the setting The premises fill themselves with colour and joy, the colour of the typical dress of the romeras (female pilgrims). The popular stands teem with dance and song, delicious dishes and drinks, hospitality towards the visitors. Alongside the celebrations, religious proceedings are performed, like the action of the Banner when the Virgin reaches her hermitage or the Rosary of torches on Sunday night, after which flamboyant fireworks light up the night sky. Finally, on Monday afternoon the return journey to the church of Saint Dominic is undertaken, where the Virgin is being entered around midnight, borne by her faithful of Lepe under vivas, olés and drums, where she will remain until the next year.