La Virgen del Carmen (July)
La Virgen del Carmen is the protectress of seamen, and on July 16th the coastal towns and fishing villages celebrate with parades and festivities in her honour.
Statues of La Virgen del Carmen are carried through the towns to the water and then taken aboard a gaily adorned boat.
The procession in Nerja leaves from the El Salvador church on the Balcon de Europa and proceeds through the town and then down Avenida Castilla Perez to Torrecilla beach. The image of Carmen is loaded on to a fishing boat at dusk.
Accompanied by a veritable flotilla of small craft the boat makes its way up and down the Nerja coastline before coming back to shore at Calahonda beach and there is a big fireworks display.
The celebrations actually begin the night before, flowers being offered to the statue in the church and on the Plaza Fabrica del Cangrejos at the bottom of Avenida Castilla Perez. There is a barbecue, bar and free sardines and drinks are on offer. Live music and dancing carry on until about 2am.
You will find lots of Virgen del Carmen photos in the Photo Gallery under ‘Fiestas’.