La Orotava yesterday celebrated the 84th edition of its traditional pilgrimage in honor of San Isidro Labrador and Santa María de la Cabeza, patron saints of the Fiestas de la Villa. As planned, the pilgrimage started around 1:30 p.m. from Calle San Francisco, once the patron saints arrived at the Casa de los Balcones from where they saw the pilgrims and pilgrims parade, the same point where they left, after the end of the pilgrimage, to reach the hermitage of Calvario around half past seven in the afternoon.
This year a total of 65 carts paraded, about thirty less than the usual number of recent years. The donkey belly refreshed the parade and at the last minute there was even a small night watchman who did not spoil the party. Among the participants and the attending public, it is estimated that yesterday they gathered in La Orotava about 30,000 people.
The parade was opened by the queen of the festivities, Andrea Oliva, and her bridesmaids, accompanied by the delegation from Ponteareas, a Galician town twinned with La Orotava, with their group of bagpipes. The closing of the parade, as is traditional, was for the cart of the Romera Mayor followed by the authorities and the images of San Isidro Labrador and Santa María de la Cabeza, escorted by the farmers’ brotherhood.
The organization of the pilgrimage was in charge, as is traditional, of the Liceo de Taoro Society, which celebrated its 86th anniversary in this edition in charge of the “most beautiful party in the Canary Islands”, and which each year ensures that tradition is respected in terms of clothing and accessories.
Despite the large concentration of people, the day took place without incident and with great animation, a party that, at the end of the pilgrimage parade, moved to the Plaza Franchy Alfaro to continue the fun with the Pilgrimage Dance that was enlivened by the Corinto Band orchestra.
