{"id":2231,"date":"2023-03-22T12:17:35","date_gmt":"2023-03-22T11:17:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/twofeetadventures.de\/?p=2231"},"modified":"2023-04-18T14:32:21","modified_gmt":"2023-04-18T12:32:21","slug":"el-rocio-und-der-rio-tinto","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/twofeetadventures.de\/en\/2023\/03\/22\/el-rocio-and-the-rio-tinto\/","title":{"rendered":"El Roc\u00edo and the Rio Tinto"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\tThis is post 16 of 17 in the series \"Trip to Europe - Spain\"<\/em>\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/label>\n\n\t\t\t

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  1. City tour Girona<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  2. Hiking in the Parc Natural de la Serra de Montsant<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  3. Hiking in the Parc Natural dels Ports<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  4. Short visit Valencia<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  5. Parque Natural de la Murta - Ascent to Creu del Cardenal<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  6. From Valencia to Andalusia<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  7. Parque Regional de Cabo Cope y Puntas - Hike to Cabo Cope<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  8. From Cabo Cope to Granada<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  9. Granada and surroundings<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  10. The Alpujarra<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  11. Through the Andalusian hinterland to El Chorro<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  12. The Caminito del Rey - A Highlight of Andalusia<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  13. Ronda and the Sierra de Grazalema<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  14. Plans change - Morocco is getting closer, or not.<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  15. Mysterious toads & the Coto de Do\u00f1ana National Park.<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  16. El Roc\u00edo and the Rio Tinto<\/span><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  17. Seville - Andalusia's Capital<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ol>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n

    Day 73 of our journey through Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    After a few beautiful days at the Coto de Do\u00f1ana National Park<\/strong> Our journey continued today in Andalusia. At the latest now it was clear to us that we would not be able to wait the days until the ferry crossing to Morocco <\/strong>in Portugal, but we will simply stay in Andalusia. Since the Rio Tinto<\/strong> was only half a day's drive away, we declared that as our new destination. But on the way there, only a few kilometres from the Do\u00f1ana, was the small village of El Roc\u00edo<\/strong> virtually right on the side of the road. Well, to call it a normal village in that sense was perhaps not quite accurate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    On horseback in El Roc\u00edo<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    El Roc\u00edo - place of pilgrimage with a western backdrop<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

    El Roc\u00edo is located directly on the north-western edge of the Coto de Do\u00f1ana and surprises the visitor with a unique setting and atmosphere. As soon as you enter the village, the sand blows across the roadway and you are presented with a completely different architectural style than you would normally expect in Andalusia. Rather, one has the impression of being in a Western Town <\/strong>to have arrived. The entire village was built on sand, there are no paved roads. We parked a little bit outside and together with us many visitors were already streaming towards the centre of the village. Dust was in the air, the first Horse-drawn carriages <\/strong>and horses with their riders trotted across the large square in front of the Ermita del Roc\u00edo<\/strong>, the church in the centre of the village. Here, in the heart of El Roc\u00edo, visitors, tourists and believers met. Many had dressed for the occasion. Tight riding trousers, boots and cowboy hats reinforced the impression that they had just jumped back in time. From the present, straight into the Wild West of the USA long ago. Only the cars sharing the roadway with the carriages and riders and the many coaches waiting for visitors showed us that we were still in the here and now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Ermita del Roc\u00edo<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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    Capilla Votiva Nuestra Se\u00f1ora del Roc\u00edo<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    But why all the Spectacle<\/strong>? El Roc\u00edo is a Place of pilgrimage<\/strong>which seems rather deserted most of the year. It usually has hardly more than 800 inhabitants. But people from all over the country come here for various events throughout the year. The highlight of the festivities is Pentecost<\/strong>when more than a million pilgrims come to El Roc\u00edo. Then over 100 Brotherhoods <\/strong>from all over Spain and abroad. They now move into the houses in the village, which remain empty for the rest of the year. On Pentecost Sunday, the faithful gather in and around the church, the Ermita. Early in the morning at sunrise, the members of the Mother Fraternity jump the cordon, perform the so-called Salto de la reja<\/strong> and carry the statue of the Virgin outside. The Blanca Paloma<\/strong> finally strides to all the other brotherhoods. Priests carried on shoulders offer prayers of thanksgiving and intercessions for the coming year. To receive a special blessing, many faithful try to touch the statue, or at least its robe, or the pedestal. The 14-day spectacle ends on the Tuesday after Pentecost, when all the brotherhoods depart again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Of course, we did not visit at Whitsun. During the year, El Roc\u00edo is mainly visited by day tourists who are on holiday in the surrounding area. But during our visit, there happened to be a festival week and so we could at least get a small impression of what a hustle and bustle might happen here at Pentecost. A church service was being held in the Ermita, which was very different from the one at home, for example. It was loud and people were singing to happy music. On the large forecourt, various stalls were selling candles, which the visitors then lit in the chapel opposite the Ermita. .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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