Benidorm once again shows its devotion to Our Lady with a massive offering on the 285th anniversary of the Discovery

This weekend, Benidorm celebrates the 285th anniversary of the discovery of the Virgin of Sorrows. Today, it was celebrated with a massive offering that, as every March, filled the doors of the Church of Sant Jaume and Santa Anna with thousands of flowers. Once again, Benidorm residents showed their faith and devotion to their patron saint, as they will do again early tomorrow morning with the Alba procession.

The majority of the city's festive, cultural, and civic organizations gathered in Elche Park from 5:30 p.m. to participate in the pilgrimage to the church, with the image of the patron saint carried on the shoulders of members of the La Barqueta Cultural and Recreational Association. The pilgrimage began just after six in the evening. Following La Barqueta, the honorary mayorals and the 2024 standard-bearer, Vicente Fuster, paved the way for the Queens of the Festes Majors Patronals, Paula Pascual and Aitana Pérez, who, along with their courts of honor, wore their regional costumes for the first time, which will accompany them throughout this festive year.

Following this, the mayor and president of the Alicante Provincial Council, Toni Pérez, presided over the row of officials, along with the Councilor for Festivals, Mariló Cebreros, and the presidents of the Festival Commission, Susana Martínez, and of the Association of Verge del Sofratge Penyes, Jonathan López, as well as a large representation of municipal councilors and regional deputies Manuel Pérez Fenoll, José Ramón González de Zárate, and Mario Villar.

The procession passed through Paseo de la Carretera, Alameda, Calle Mayor, and Plaza de Sant Jaume. Upon arrival at the square, the statue of Our Lady of Suffrage was placed under the church portico, which, as the afternoon progressed, was filled with bouquets and flower baskets until it surrounded the patron saint. The last to lay theirs were the ladies of the 2025 Festivities and their queens, Paula and Aitana, as well as the councilors and the mayor, who also made offerings on behalf of the entire city. The moment arrived for placing bow ties on the banners of La Barqueta, the Association of Patron Saints, and the Commission of Major Patron Saint Festivities.

Afterward, the child queen, Aitana Pérez, recited the verse to the Virgin, to whom "we dedicate these festivities that we prepare with such devotion." "This little queen today prays for your glory," concluded Aitana Pérez. Following her, Paula Pascual gave her first public speech as the city's highest representative of the festival. In it, she stated that her devotion to the festival "began while my body was forming, because the music and atmosphere of the Festes Majors could already be heard." She also recounted that at just three months old, "I already made my first offering." "Then I dreamed of being part of the court of honor, I was a child bridesmaid, and now I'm fulfilling my dream," she said, remembering her grandfather, "who always wanted a granddaughter to be queen of the festival," and her uncle Jaume Antón. Paula Pascual emphasized the importance of this day "because we are wearing the regional costume for the first time" and promised "to do our best to fulfill our role as representatives of the Festes Majors Patronals." He also congratulated the child queen "for having recited the verse with such affection" and concluded by singing a part of the Benidorm anthem "which always moves me."

Finally, the mayor of Benidorm, Toni Pérez, addressed the audience, stating that on March 16, 1740, "the people of Benidorm went out at dawn to search for her, not knowing they would find her." The mayor said that day was "the turning point in our history." "Today we go out to pay homage to her, and tomorrow, in a few hours, we will return to be with her in the Alba procession," he concluded, not without congratulating the commission of mayors.

The offering concluded with the playing of the anthems of Benidorm and the Valencian Community and the launching of a fireworks display from the Plaça de la Senyoria.