SAINT ISIDORE’S PILGRIMAGE. FUENTE DE CANTOS

DETAILS

Denomination: Romería de San Isidro

Place: Fuente de Cantos. Badajoz

Date: 15 de mayo

Most interesting moments:

Taking the road to the Saint’s Hermitage.

The Procession of the Saint through the meadow.

Spending the day together on Saint Isidore’s Day.

How to get there: Fuente de Cantos is located on the N-630 and A-66 in the final part of the province of Badajoz, which links Mérida to Seville.

THE HISTORY

Since long ago, the celebration, one day a year, of the festivity of Saint Isidore the Farmer, the patron saint of farmers, has become common in agricultural towns like Fuente de Cantos. In this festivity, acts are held which culminate with the procession of the saint along the streets of the town; otherwise, he is taken to the Hermitage, almost always situated outside the town.

This festival is used to renew the Board of the Brotherhood of Saint Isidore. In 1941, it was decided to hold the event for the first time in the countryside, as a result of which the so-called Saint Isidore’s Pilgrimage has been held since then. At the same time, a hermitage for the worship of the patron saint was built in the place known by the people as Martá.

Since then, year after year, this festivity has seen the increasing attendance of pilgrims, not only from Fuente de Cantos but from all the neighbouring towns in this region of the south of Extremadura.

THE FESTIVAL

With a marked popular atmosphere, Saint Isidore’s Pilgrimage in Fuente de Cantos is the most interesting demonstration of spending time together in the south of the region. The influence of the attractive and popular folklore which exists in these southern lands and in the neighbouring Andalusia, crossed by the historical Vía de la Plata (Silver Route), is logically reflected in the current-day pilgrimage, in which the fine and beautiful stalls set up by groups of friends, associations and relatives proliferate; they enjoy sharing the typical dishes and the fine wines in the friendship so typical of pilgrims.



                                 Romería de San Isidro

These celebrations make Saint Isidore’s Pilgrimage in Fuente de Cantos a showcase for Extremadura cordiality, not only in the region but among the thousands of visitors from neighbouring provinces such as Seville, Huelva, Cordoba, Cáceres and so on who come to see this famous event.

At midday a mass is held in honour of the Patron Saint, to whom his own Brotherhood sing hymns; many of its members come to Fuente de Cantos on horseback or on carts, crossing the waters of the river Bodión on their way, just like hundreds more pilgrims.

After the mass, Saint Isidore is paraded around the area known as La Pradera (The Meadow), accompanied by riders on horses and the pilgrims on foot. At night, the lighting on La Pradera allows the pilgrimage to go on longer, while a crowded open-air dance is held.

Meanwhile, on the days before the festivity of Saint Isidore and on 15 May, sporting, recreational and gastronomic competitions are held, helping to show residents and neighbours the fraternity between neighboring populations, regardless of limits and borders.