A large crowd of Portuenses greeted their patron saint, the Holy Cross, on her traditional route as they do every 3rd of May. As Álvarez Rixo, mayor and official chronicler back in 1850, mentioned, crosses, banners, and fireworks celebrated the festival of all the Portuenses. The procession included the reading, by the mayor of the city, Marco González, on behalf of the entire Corporation, of a historical account of the origins of this celebration and the reasons why the people of Portuense dedicate this day to their patron saint.
The route, with representatives from other institutions, started after the traditional mass at the Las Lonjas chapel in the early morning, which has become an essential part of the Day of the Cross. The day concluded with the Grand Concert of the Cross in the Concejil Square, performed by the Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir of Puerto de la Cruz, organized in collaboration with Manos Unidas.
A snapshot from the festivities honouring the Holy Cross in Puerto de la Cruz yesterday. | ED
This year’s celebrations will also explore books and the history of the municipality, as the book “Puerto de la Cruz through Cartography” by the renowned researcher Juan Tous Meliá will be presented today at 12:00 in the Plenary Hall of the City Council. Juan Tous Meliá has authored other titles delving into the cartography of the Canary Islands and Tenerife.
The Patron Saint Festivities will continue until tomorrow, Sunday, with an extraordinary concert by the Puerto de la Cruz Music Band in the Concejil Square, marking the end of the festive events that commenced last Wednesday with the proclamation by Irlanda Pérez, the chambermaid of the Las Lonjas chapel.
Additionally, the enjoyment of the fourth edition of the Artistic Crosses tour will continue until tomorrow, Sunday, where ephemeral art takes shape in different parts of the municipality. The art pieces will be displayed in Las Dehesas sponsored by Zona Verde, in Punta Brava sponsored by Loro Parque, in La Vera sponsored by Asyota, in the Central area in the Concejil Square by Manos Unidas, in San Felipe-El Tejar by the Neighbourhood Festival Committee, in Martiánez by the Municipal Gardening Services, and in La Ranilla by the La Peñita Neighbourhood Association, in addition to hundreds of crosses sprinkled throughout the municipality.
The full programme of festivities dedicated to the municipality’s Patron Saint Day can be found on social media and on the municipal festival website www.somosfiestas.es/patronales.
