The Alicante City Council repeats last year's calculation and announces that more than 330,000 people have traveled from dawn to walk to the Santa Faz monastery, located 6.7 kilometers from the Co-Cathedral of San Nicolás, the official departure point of a pilgrimage that today celebrates its 532nd anniversary.
The figure is very high (the city has 350,000 inhabitants and it is not a holiday in the rest of the province) and impossible to confirm, but even the Government delegate, Pilar Bernabé, who disagrees with local and regional power on so many issues, has stated it. given as good while highlighting the absence of significant incidents once half a day had passed.
The truth is that it is a river of people. Moved by the oldest and most genuine tradition, by fervor or by the simple desire to enjoy a march and a lunch with family and friends, he covered the route for hours, on a morning of spring weather that invited walking.
Nobody in Alicante doubts the historical and sentimental value of the pilgrimage, but the city made two attempts to achieve official recognition, the designation as an Asset of Cultural Interest - in 2002 and 2016 - which did not bear fruit. Today, President Carlos Mazón has announced that on the 24th the Ministry of Culture will open a new file to launch the candidacy.
The head of the Consell has asked for support from all institutions and citizens, even suggesting a collection of signatures, to support a process "that does not depend only on us" (in reference to the Generalitat and the rest of the public administrations) and that foresees a maximum period of two years to obtain BIC status
The Santa Faz is the second most participatory pilgrimage in Spain after the Rocío and it commemorates the miracle of the tear that occurred on March 17, 1489 during a procession of prayers with the canvas as the protagonist and on the occasion of a severe drought that shook the area.
Upon the arrival of the delegation to the monastery, the trustee councilors Cristina Cutanda and Nayma Beldjilali were in charge, together with the local chaplain, Miguel Ángel Cremades, and the dean of the co-cathedral, Ramón Egio, of opening the niche of the monastery. dressing room, where the Holy Face is venerated. They have done so following a protocol established in the 16th century, together with the general secretary of the Plenary, Lidia María Baeza, and the Custodian Knights, Salvador de Lacy and Eleuterio Llorca.
Following the traditional ritual, under a canopy, the Holy Face was carried by Bishop Munilla to the Plaza de Luis Foglietti for the celebration of a Eucharist followed by a crowd that packed the place. At the end, and following the same ceremony, the canvas was returned to the dressing room.
It will be a weekend of constant movement in this hamlet located at the confluence of Alicante and Sant Joan, where stallholders and artisans hope to complete a good deal, as do the hospitality establishments of the nearby Playa de San Juan, where it is customary many conclude the festive day.
