It is erected in the park that bears its name, at the northern entrance to Lepe. A sculptural ensemble crafted by Lepe artist Francisca Abreu in homage to the seafarers of the town who participated in the discovery of the Americas, specifically to Rodrigo de Triana, the first seafarer to spot land in Columbus’ expedition and who some authors link to the town of Lepe. The sculptural ensemble consists of five figurative-expressionist sculptures crafted out of stone that stand about seven feet tall - the standing ones - and three feet - the sitting one. The main figure represents Rodrigo de Triana. He is shown on the high top of the caravel Pinta, when he shouted Land in sight!” on 12 October 1492, upon seeing a fire on an Antillian island. The other persons represent three seafarers undertaking various tasks and a woman pulling in fishing net.;Im gleichnamigen Park gelegen, am nördlichen Zugang nach Lepe. Hierbei handelt es sich um einen Skulpturenkomplex, der von der aus Lepe stammenden Künstlerin Francisca Abreu geschaffen wurde. Er ist eine Hommage an die Seefahrer dieses Ortes, die an der Entdeckung Amerikas teilgenommen hatten, mit besonderem Augenmerk auf Rodrigo de Triana, den Seefahrer, der in Begleitung von Kolumbus bei seiner Expedition als erster Land gesehen hatte und den einige Autoren mit dem Ort Lepe in Verbindung bringen. Dieser Skulpturenkomplex besteht aus fünf figurativ-expressionistischen Skulpturen, aus Stein gemeißelt, die ungefähr zwei Meter (diejenigen, die aufrecht stehen) und einen Meter groß (die sitzende Figur) sind. Die Hauptfigur stellt Rodrigo de Triana dar. Er wird gezeigt, wie er im Ausguck der Karavelle Pinta steht und am 12. Oktober 1492 ruft: „Land in Sicht!, als er auf einer der Antilleninseln Feuer sieht. Die übrigen Figuren stellen drei Seeleute dar, wie sie verschiedene Aufgaben erledigen und eine Frau, wie sie das Fischernetz einholt.
During Holy Week different processions re-enacting the Passion and Death of Christ are held throughout the week. It starts on Palm Sunday with the children of Lepe accompanying the figures carrying olive tree and palm branches. Holy Week reaches its maximum splendour on Holy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, when several figures are carried through the streets, such as Our Lady of Sorrows, the Christ of Mercy, Our Lady of Anguish, Our Father Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ of Health, Our Lady of Love, the latter borne by women. Finally, on Friday night the Entombment of Christ is carried around in a procession, as the culmination of the Holy Week.
The Pilgrimage in honor of Ntra. Sra. de la Bella stands out for being a celebration genuine with more than half a century of history and considered the third in importance in the region. It brings together thousands of people around the second weekend of May, when the streets of Lepe are adorned with their traditional sky of blue and white paper and the pilgrimage site next to El Terrón magnificently welcomes pilgrims and visitors. It is a festivity in the purest Andalusian style, where the typical pilgrimage constumes are worn and the singing and dancing of Sevillanas bring joy to the streets.
The history of the Romería began in 1966, when a group of young peoplefrom Catholic action, at the request of the priest Don Manuel Gómez, organized a tour countryside to the place known as Cabezo de la Bella, next to the ruins of the old Franciscan convent. Since then, it has grown in tradition and popularity to become the massive celebration of our days and that comes to endorse a feeling that was born in the fifteenth century, when the discovery of the Virgen de la Bella was produced, which with its subsequent arrival in Lepe centuries later, remained forever linked to the municipality.
The central acts begin on Friday afternoon with the massive Offering of Flowers. Saturday dawns and the drummers invade the streets with their touch remembering that, in the afternoon, the path to the pilgrimage site begins, with the exciting stop at the First Cross, where the Hail to the Virgin is sung. When night falls, the Virgin enters her hermitage and there is the Puja del Pendón, an insignia that represents the Patron Saint. The night passes with the candles to the Virgin so that she is never alone. Among the religious cults, the Holy Rosary stands out on Sunday night, with its spiritual journey by torchlight.
Surrounding the ruins of the old convent, a splendid enclosure, of great showiness and with large green areas with the characteristic olive and fig trees and with a multitude of booths and houses that follow the typical pilgrimage construction models. In this environment, more than one hundred thousand people gather during the days of the Pilgrimage. The days take place in an atmosphere of coexistence between neighbours and visitors, always enlivened with the songs and dances typical of our land and all accompanied by good food and drink.
The following weekend, the faithful take the Banner of the Virgin to the enclosure, where it will be guarded until the start of the next pilgrimage. This celebration is known as the RomeríaChica, which could well compete in festive atmosphere anda popular participation with any other pilgrimage in the area.
Hostel El Patio’s desk is manned 24/24 and the establishment offers a free high speed Wi-Fi connection. It is a 5 minutes walk away from the heart of Lepe, in the shopping centre Marina Ocio, which also houses 3D cinemas and restaurants. The rooms overlook an impressive arched patio with glass roof and are equipped with air conditioning, fridge, flat screen TV, Wi-Fi, hair dryer, massaging couch (subject to availability). Moreover they have heating and private bath with bathtub or shower. It offers a luggage storage and tourist information. Breakfast ist everydays free style buffet and also it can enjoy 24 hours of a jacuzzi and chillout terrace outdoors. The establishment is situated on the main road to Antilla Beach, at 3 miles form the beach. Huelva is at 22 miles distance. The Portuguese border is at 12.5 miles distance.
Throughout history, Lepe has always been linked to fishing and agriculture. The wine of Lepe, which already appeared in the Canterbury Tales, was a source of wealth in this municipality, as were the figs. The rich men of the time gathered in the casinos and those of a lower social layer did so in the taverns or zampuzos”, which were the typical social meeting points to chat and drink wine. Nowadays, Lepe preserves the traditional style of these small zampuzos”. As a curiosity, after the harvest in September, each of the proprietors squashes the grapes in his own establishment and brews the must in own barrels, which is then offered to customers of these picturesque venues, a pleasure wine lovers can enjoy.
On 5 January the magic Cavalcade of Magi is celebrated. Melchior, Gaspar, and Baltasar ride through the village streets in their coaches, as they throw candies at the children. They are accompanied by other coaches, decorated according to certain themes, full of lights, colour and music.
Chapel dedicated to seafarers, located in the quarter of the Pendola. Our Lady of Mount Carmel, to whom it is dedicated, is revered in this chapel. It regards a wooden polychrome statue sculpted by León Ortega in 1954 and restored by him in 1978.
