Romería de la Virgen de la Esperanza in Calasparra every 1st May

The figure of the patron of Calasparra is brought from her rural sanctuary into the town

Every 1st May the figure of the Virgen de la Esperanza is brought down from her sanctuary outside Calasparra to the town below, where she remains until the first Sunday in June before returning to her picturesque hoem cut into the rock face.

She is brought down into the town so that she can be present for the numerous First Communions which take place in Calasparra during May, important events in the lives of young Catholics in Spain.

The journey is about 6 kilometres and buses are available to transport those following the romería back to the starting point. 

Click here for more information about the Sanctuary of La Esperanza in Calasparra.

On 1st May, buses from the centre of Calasparra centre take participants up to the Sanctuary from around 15.00 for the start of the romería, leaving from Calle de Ordóñez outside a bar called Bar Dupón, with a small fare charged. 

The Virgen departs from her sanctuary at 17.00 and is accompanied by thousands of people who walk the 6 kilometres down into Calasparra itself.

For the return journey on the first Sunday in June, when the Virgen returns to her sanctuary, there is also a fixed annual timetable. Mass is held in the parish church of San Pedro at 7.00 in the morning and an hour later the Virgen leaves the church and is carried back up to her sanctuary.

She arrives around 10.30 and another Mass is held once she is safely back inside the chapel.

Buses are available from the time of her arrival to take participants back down into Calasparra.