The Moor and Christians Festival 2024 in Pego will take place from 27 to 30 June

The colourful and spectacular Moors and Christians Festival traditionally takes place on the last weekend of June in Pego (Alicante province). Last year it received the status of Festival of Autonomous Tourist Interest of the Valencian Community. This celebration is over 55 years old, and every year it attracts more and more tourists. Don’t miss this flamboyant event, especially as it takes only 1.5 hours to get from Valencia to Pego by car. 

The festival is held in honour of the patron saint of the city, Santísimo Ecce-Homo. The festival reflects the historical confrontation between Moors and Christians during the Reconquista. This is the name given to the Spanish reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula occupied by the Moorish emirates. It lasted from VIII to XV century. 

In 2024 the festival will be held from 27 to 30 June. Each day, its guests are expected several parades and processions, in which groups of local residents dressed in costumes of Moors and Christians take part. The festival programme also includes street dancing, marches with decorated platforms, band performances, children’s entertainment, culinary tastings and much more. The exact schedule of events can be found on the official website of the Valencian Community.

The most important event of the festival is the grand final battle between the Moors and the Christians, in which, as many centuries ago, the Christians win.

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Photo from flickr.com, by gloria castro