Plans from your property at La Manga Club: experience the romería of Our Lady of Fuensanta

One of the many advantages of owning a property at La Manga Club is how easy it is to explore the rich culture and traditions of the Murcia region. If you enjoy discovering local festivals and experiencing the customs that give a place its character, the romería of Our Lady of Fuensanta is well worth adding to your plans. Held every September in the city of Murcia, just over 50 kilometres from the resort, it is one of the region’s most important religious traditions.

A romería is a traditional pilgrimage in which the local community accompanies its patron saint, combining religious devotion with music, celebration and centuries-old customs. Each year, it attracts hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and visitors, offering insight into Murcia’s cultural heritage. In 2026, the pilgrimage will take place on 15 September, bringing the Murcia Fair to a close. If those dates do not coincide with your visit, this year there will be a second opportunity for the experience. As part of the Jubilee Year marking the centenary of the Canonical Coronation of Our Lady in 2027, a second major pilgrimage will also take place between 5 and 18 October 2026.

This romería is part of the Murcia Fair, an annual celebration that transforms the city for almost two weeks with hundreds of activities for all ages. The festivities revolve around two key moments: the bajada (the descent), when the Virgin is carried from the Sanctuary of Algezares to the Cathedral to officially open the celebrations, and the pilgrimage itself, which brings the festivities to a close as the icon returns to her mountain sanctuary. Here’s everything you need to know.

A tradition born from a miracle

The origins of this centuries-old tradition date back to 1694, when a prolonged drought devastated the surrounding countryside. The people of Murcia decided to carry the image of Our Lady from the sanctuary to the city for the first time, praying for rain as they travelled along the road from Algezares. According to contemporary accounts, the prayers were followed by heavy rain and, remarkably, even snow.

The miracle was said to have been repeated during subsequent pilgrimages, and, in 1731, Our Lady of Fuensanta was declared the patron saint of the city of Murcia and its fertile plain, replacing the patron who had held the title since the Reconquista. More than three centuries later, devotion to La Morenica, as the Virgin of Fuensanta is affectionately known, remains as strong as ever.

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fuensanta stands just outside Murcia in the district of Algezares, on the lower slopes of the Carrascoy mountain range. Built in the Baroque style from 1694 on the site of an earlier medieval chapel, it takes its name from the nearby spring, whose waters were long believed to possess miraculous properties. Today, the sanctuary is recognised as a Site of Cultural Interest and is one of Spain’s most visited pilgrimage destinations, admired for both its religious significance and its beautiful natural setting.

How the September pilgrimage unfolds

The icon of the Virgin leaves Murcia Cathedral, its home since the beginning of the city’s patron saint festivities. As it makes its way through streets lined with thousands of worshippers, the pilgrimage becomes a solemn procession led by members of the clergy, city authorities and long lines of devoted pilgrims.

The Virgin’s magnificent silver throne moves slowly through the crowds while flower petals are showered from balconies along the route, a tribute paid by the people of Murcia to their beloved patron. It’s an unforgettable spectacle, in which centuries of faith, tradition and colour come together.

After the open-air Mass and the return of Our Lady of Fuensanta to the sanctuary, families and friends usually spend the afternoon having picnics beneath the pine trees. Typical dishes include Spanish omelette, michirones, zarangollo, baked octopus, paparajotes and, naturally, wines from the region. Favourite picnic spots include the Monastery of La Luz and the peaceful surroundings of El Valle, La Cerrilla and La Cresta del Gallo, all renowned for their panoramic views.

From La Manga Club, experiencing the romería is simple. Murcia is just over 50 kilometres from the resort, making it an easy drive of less than an hour. It is one more example of what makes living here so rewarding: not only do you have access to one of Europe’s leading leisure resorts, but also to a historic city with centuries of heritage, a vibrant year-round cultural agenda and traditions that few Mediterranean destinations can rival.

Owning a property at La Manga Club is about far more than championship golf, our tennis centre, the secluded beach and the spa at the Grand Hyatt. It is about becoming part of a region with a distinctive cultural identity, where remarkable experiences are always within reach.

If you are considering making La Manga Club your home, we invite you to discover our current residential opportunities, including the contemporary Las Orquídeas apartments, the exclusive Las Acacias villas and the forthcoming Tennis Residences, and experience first-hand everything our exceptional lifestyle has to offer.