Algodonales in Andalucia a town of Fiestas

The Romeria

It’s Saturday 30th May and the picturesque Andalucian village of Algodonales is buzzing with excitement as families and children of all ages flock to the Square to celebrate the Romeria.

This traditional local fiesta sees the surrounding streets cordoned off, and the bars spilling out with people sipping rebujitos and glasses of sweet tinto de verano. Men and children as young as two sit atop well turned out horses and donkeys pulling carriages with women dressed in vibrant flamenco frocks perching expertly on the back, nattering to onlookers and posing for photos as they prance by proudly. 

Sounds of bang snappers popping on the ground coupled with the rhythmic Spanish music sounding from inside the brimming bars set the scene for this leisurely celebration of Andalusian culture and the pilgrimage of la Virgencita de la Sierra. After a day of making my first tandem paraglider flight high above the Sierras of Ronda, the town is another heady mix of down to earth fun and frollocks.

The Romeria horse festival begins routinely with villagers adorning the Virgin Madonna display with beautiful flowers outside the local Catholic Church. After a weekend of celebration, Sunday comes, the shops close down and everyone from bakers to farmers travel in decorative wagons behind the Madonna to the baking river bed. Here the community socialize over salty sardines and freshly baked croquettas, dancing until the sun goes down and the cold beer runs out.

It is a true taste of the good-natured Algodonales culture worth experiencing. Needless to say, all this is a background to the courses and holidays you could be doing here in Algodonales. see our dates and booking pages for more information on either tandems flights, paramotor courses or paragliding  holidays here at FLYSpain