Moors and Christians of Villena
Villena celebrates one of its most deeply-rooted collective manifestations in honour of Our Lady María de las Virtues, la Morenica. Music, harquebusy, historical theater, devotion and great parades bring together fourteen troupes and mobilize a very large part of the population.
Celebration date
The patron saint festivities are celebrated every year from 4 September to 9. The cycle includes previous events such as the pasodobles concert and the pilgrimage of the patron saint's arrival from her sanctuary.
View the Moors and Christians programme of Villena 2026.
The celebration should not be confused with the work calendar: the fact that there is a patron holiday does not automatically convert all those days into official public holidays.
Places and routes
Plaza de Santiago, Avenida de la Constitución and Calle Nueva organise many of the parades and ceremonies. The Atalaya Castle serves as a monumental setting for embassies, while the archdeacon church of Santiago Apóstol and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Virtues host religious events and pilgrimages.
Origin and history
The current festive tradition brings together three historical components: the patron saint's devotion and its pilgrimages, the old parade or military festival and the representations of Moors and Christians through guerrillas, embassies and conversion. Institutional sources place its roots in the 15th century and relate the proclamation of the Virgin of the Virtues as patron saint with the end of that century.
The Central Board organises, represents and governs the festival by delegation and under the auspices of the City Council. Its preamble defines the celebration as a memory of the deeds of the Reconquista and a tribute to the patron saint of Villena.
Catorce comparsas
Seven troupes from the Moorish side and seven from the Christian side participate. The Moor includes Old Moors, New Moors, Moroccan Band, Royalist Moors, Nasrid Moors, Berber Moors and Pirates. The Christian brings together Students, Sailors, Corsairs, Andalusians, Farmers, Ballesteros, Almogávares and Christians.
Main events and traditions
- Proclamation, Pasodoble Festival and Grand Entrance of the fourteen troupes.
- Dianas, offering, Parade of Hope, Retreat and Great Parade.
- Guerrillas and embassies from the Moor to the Christian and from the Christian to the Moor in front of the Atalaya Castle.
- Arquebucería, rolling of flags and symbolic presence of Muhammad in the cycle of embassies.
- Procession on 8 September and pilgrimages that carry the image from the sanctuary and return it at the end of the festivities.
La Morenica and popular participation
Our Lady Mary of the Virtues unites the religious and festive dimensions. Thousands of villeneros participate as partygoers, charges, musicians, harquebusiers, bearers and companions, while the City Council, the Central Board, the Board of the Virgin, parishes and troupes coordinate the different events.
Reconocimiento turístico
The Moors and Christians of Villena are declared Festival of National Tourist Interest. In 2026, the City Council also began the institutional steps to request international recognition, which should not yet be considered granted.