IT'S FIESTA TIME AGAIN IN MONTANCHEZ

Every year at the beginning of September Montanchez celebrates its most important fiesta, La Virgen del Castillo. The image of the Virgen stays up in the castle church for the whole year except for these nine days when she is brought down into the church of San Mateo in the village. The journeys down the hill and back up to the castle each involve a procession which is joined by most of the population of the village. The initiation of the fiesta is the downward journey, the ornate and beautifully decorated float is  borne aloft by several sturdy men and proceeded by the village band, it makes its way slowly down the steep hill until arriving at the doors of the church.  It's always a moving moment when  the virgen arrives safely at the church, there is a spontaneous outbreak of loud clapping and beaming smiles as everyone troops in for the blessing. 

As well as the processions there is continuous fiesta atmosphere in the Plaza de España with all the cafes and bars arranging their tables and chairs out in the open to enjoy the long warm evenings. There are also various other day time activities including the correo de cinta, a horse riding competition. The riders and horses are all wearing their traditional gear and looking very dashing. A string of rings are stretched over the course and the riders attempt to secure the rings with a short lance, this is not easy at full gallop.

Horses assemble before the correo de cinta

Manfred a.k.a. Don Quixote makes his choice

After another copa in the plaza time to go home through  another plaza, Altozano, which has a pretty fountain, palm trees and in this photo the full moon.