Villajoyosa’s Ermita de Sant Antoni neighbourhood will celebrate the feast of San Isidro Labrador this weekend with two days of food, music and long-standing traditions.
Do you fancy watching an omelette showdown followed by a traditional pilgrimage with a horse-drawn saint? Then Villajoyosa has your weekend plans sorted.
Villajoyosa’s San Isidro party atmosphere
Festivities begin on Saturday 16 May with a lively neighbourhood celebration centred around a classic Spanish favourite: tortilla de patatas.
The tortilla competition starts at 1pm, with prizes for both the best onion tortilla and the best onion-free version.
Organisers will provide the ingredients, while contestants only need to bring their own cooking equipment. Registration remains open until 14 May.
Throughout the afternoon, visitors can also enjoy music, DJs and a bar serving food and drinks at popular prices.
Traditional romería on Sunday
The main event takes place on Sunday 17 May with the traditional romería dedicated to San Isidro Labrador.
A mass in honour of the saint will be held at 11am in the San Antonio Abad parish church before residents accompany the image of San Isidro on pilgrimage to the San Isidro neighbourhood.
In true rural tradition, the saint will travel in a cart pulled by a horse, while locals walk alongside in celebration.
Once the procession reaches the neighbourhood, participants will enjoy a popular communal breakfast before returning together to the parish church.
Villajoyosa’s councillor for fiestas, Jaime Santamaría, said the celebrations reflect the area’s agricultural roots and traditions, adding that the festivities remain among the most cherished in the town.
