Romería of San Isidro

After all the feria fun in Seville, there's just time to catch breath before yet another fiesta kicks off nearer to home (not to mention the fabulous horse fair that's also happening down the coast in Jerez). May 15th is the feast of San Isidro, the patron saint of farmers, and the Nerja romería is one of the more spectacular celebrations in our region – but there are similar celebrations all over Spain and a really big one in Madrid.

In Nerja, a happy parade of carts and horses and people on foot set off from the church in the town to wander to an area near the famous caves where a fairly lively open air party ensued – and continued well into the small hours!

Just as in Seville, there were lots of people dressed in colourful traditional costume for the occasion. Perhaps there were more mules in evidence than there were in Seville, but the mules' intricate harnesses and headdresses were surely every bit as impressive as any worn by the beautiful horses drawing the glittering carriages at the feria.