Pilgrimage of El Rocío
How to get there
The Pilgrimage of El Rocio is a Catholic demonstration in honor of the Andalusian Virgen del Rocio which is held during the weekend of the Sunday Pentecost. This pilgrimage is aimed at the Rocio Hermitage in Almonte (Huelva), 80 km from Seville, where the Virgen del Rocio is located.
The Pilgrimage of El Rocio is the most important pilgramage in Spain for the number of pilgrims (there are over 100 brotherhoods), as well as for the beauty of the area, the costumes, horses, decorated floats and for the devotion and joy of the faithful.
Once the procession reaches the gates of El Rocio hermitage on the midnight between Sunday and Monday of Pentecost, the recitation of the Holy Rosary and all Simpecado (insignia of the brotherhoods whichrepresent the virgin) pass in front of the chapel.
The last Simpecado is the Brotherhood of Almonte, which is responsible for conducting worship and pilgrimage of El Rocío. The brotherhood enters in the chapel to the sanctuary, and that is when the popularly known "jumping the fence" occurs, where devotees literally jump the fence that protects the Virgen del Rocio, called "White Dove", in order to have the honor of carrying her on the shoulders in procession by the various guilds while the priests pray the Salve.
Pilgrimage to El Rocio
