Romería del Rocío

The Romería del Rocío is Europe’s most significant pilgrimage, drawing over a million devotees to the tiny hamlet of El Rocío in Almonte. This spectacular event culminates on the weekend of Pentecost, where more than a hundred brotherhoods (hermandades) arrive on horseback and in flower-adorned carriages after journeying through the Doñana marshlands. The atmosphere is a profound mix of spiritual devotion and festive joy, filled with the sound of flutes, drums, and flamenco singing. The high point occurs in the early hours of Monday morning during the 'Salt over the Fence' (Salto de la reja), when the local Almonteños carry the statue of the Virgin in a fervent procession through the village.