Are you visiting Valencia on the second Sunday of May and would you like to know more about the celebration in honour of the Virgen de los Desamparados? You will find more information on this page.
Patron saint of the city Valencia
The Virgen de los Desamparados, or the holy virgin of the helpless, is the patron saint of the city Valencia. Every year on the second Sunday of May there is a celebration in her honor. You can find the statue of the Virgen de los Desamparados in the Basilica which is located next to the Plaza de la Virgen. The Virgen de los Desamparados has a also got a nickname, “La Geperudeta”, the hunchback. The people of Valencia gave her this name due to her slightly bent position of her head and neck.
Celebration
On Saturday evening there will be a concert of the Valencian municipality band at the Plaza de la Virgen. Furthermore there will be a fireworks spectacle in the Turia park and afterwards you can enjoy the “Dansa a la Mare de Deu”, typical Valencian dances. At 5.00 am a service will be held in the open air and at 8.00 the service for the children takes place. At 10.30 am the removal of the “Virgen de los Desamparados” will start, she will be removed from the Basilica to the cathedral. At 2 pm there will be a mascleta at the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. A mascleta is a fireworks spectacle which is mainly focused on the sound/rhythm of the fireworks and less on the colours or decoration. At 7 pm a procession will take place in which the Virgen de los Desamparados will be carried through the streets in the old city centre.
Date
In 2019, the celebration of the Virgen de los Desamparados will take place on Sunday 12 May.
