16 July – every year on this day Marbella immerses itself in a unique atmosphere, celebrating the Fiesta de la Virgen del Carmen. It’s a day dedicated to the patron saint of fishermen, sailors, seamen and all those who work at sea, a whole sector – one of the most important pillars of the local and national economy since time immemorial. The festival has a history of more than 100 years and is one of the most important in Andalusia during the summer.
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Marbella – a city connected to the sea
According to historical records, celebrations in honour of the Virgen del Carmen (Our Lady of Mount Carmel) have been held on 16 July in Marbella since 1919. The first celebration of this festival was accompanied by a festive corrida. Today, the streets of Marbella are lined with a statue of Our Lady, carried by the faithful on their own shoulders, which can also be seen for the first time wearing a crown. After years of efforts by confraternities and residents, the local ecclesiastical dignitaries honoured her in this unique way during the solemn act of coronation in October 2024.
This is one of the most colourful summer events in Andalusia, deeply rooted in local tradition and spirituality. In Marbella, a city with strong ties to the sea, the celebrations in honour of the Virgen del Carmen have a special dimension. The prelude to the celebration is the rosary at dawn – a popular religious tradition particularly rooted in Spain and some Latin American countries. A crowd of the faithful then gathers in the Encarnación church to pray the rosary in honour of Mary, the heavenly mother, and then take part in a procession that passes through the streets of the old town to El Cable beach.
The procession is the highlight of the ceremony and begins in the picturesque historic streets of the Old Town. Accompanied by an orchestra and local brotherhoods, the statue of the Virgin Mary is carried by the faithful in traditional costumes. These are sailor-style and consist of navy blue trousers and a white shirt – usually with the characteristic rolled-up sleeves and legs – and a navy blue waistcoat, all trimmed with a red cord with tassels.
Water procession for the Virgen del Carmen
The procession then heads towards the port of La Bajadilla, where the statue of the Virgen del Carmen is placed on a decorated boat and sets out to sea. Dozens of ships, boats or boats, decorated with flowers and lights, accompany her in a picturesque water procession. Chants, prayers and the sound of sea sirens then resound from the harbour. This symbolic voyage is a blessing for the waters and their people and a prayer for peaceful fishing, safe voyages and prosperity for the entire community, which draws on the wealth of the sea’s resources.
Interestingly, the statue of the Virgen del Carmen is kept 12 metres underground on a daily basis, in a special vault that she only leaves once a year – precisely on 16 July. It is said that she watches over Marbella, although she is not only the patron saint of this city.
Costa del Sol celebrates on 16 July
For locals, the Fiesta de la Virgen del Carmen is not only a religious event, but also an important moment of coming together and celebrating together, and an opportunity to express pride in their local identity and close connection with the sea. Passion, devotion, emotion, tradition, colours and religiosity are just some of the words that come to mind when talking about this unique event.
During the Fiesta de la Virgen del Carmen, the heart of Andalusian culture beats – it is a day when spirituality, tradition and love of the sea combine to create an unforgettable experience – for locals and tourists alike. Between 16 and 26 July, up to 30 processions take place all over the Costa del Sol in honour of the Virgen del Carmen – from the town of Nerja to Malaga to Estepona and Manilva.
Most events are also accompanied by festivals, where you can have a great time, mingle with the local community and get a real feel for the Spanish way of life. It is worth mentioning that in some towns in the province of Malaga, such as Torremolinos and Benalmadena, this day is a public holiday – so don’t be surprised to find your shop or bank closed.
Route and programme of the Fiesta de la Virgen del Carmen procession
The procession has a designated route that follows the streets of Trinidad, Salinas, Arte, Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno, Puente Málaga, Nabeul Avenue, Severo Ochoa, Antonio Méndez Sánchez, Duque de Ahumada, Miguel Cano, Ramón y Cajal, Huerta Chica, Plaza de la Victoria, Estación, Plaza de los Naranjos, and the streets of General Chinchilla and Carmen until it returns to its sacred church.
On the avenues of Nabeul and Miguel Cano and on Huerta Chica Street, the procession has a particularly picturesque dimension, as the pouring of flower petals takes place there. This is followed by the transport of the statue of the Virgen del Carmen by boat from the fishing port of La Bajadilla to the Puerto Deportivo Virgen del Carmen, from where it is carried back in procession to the church of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación.
Programme of celebrations on 16 July
6.30am – Rosary and departure from Encarnacion Church towards El Cable beach,
8.00 – Mass on El Cable beach, followed by a chocolate churros tasting for event participants,
10.00 – Sea procession: from the fishing port to Puerto Deportivo de Marbella,
11.00 – return procession: from Puerto Deportivo de Marbella to Encarnacion church.
