Thousands of festeros participate in the traditional pilgrimage, which culminates with the verse of the children's queen and the words of the queen of the Fiestas to the Mare de Déu
Benidorm gives offering to its patroness on the 279th anniversary of her arrival in the city
One more year Benidorm has turned to events commemorating the anniversary of the arrival of the patroness to the city, which is 279 years old. Yesterday thousands of people participated in the traditional pilgrimage and offering in honor of the Mare de Déu del Sofratge, which left from Paseo de Colón until reaching the church of Sant Jaume and Santa Anna.
The queens of the Festes Majors Patronals of 2019, Marina Carrillo and Paula Mayor, accompanied by their courts of honor were in charge of opening the pilgrimage, followed by the municipal corporation, headed by the mayor, Toni Pérez, and by the councilman of Fiestas, Jesús Carrobles; and of the presidents of the Comissió de Festes Majors Patronals and of the Association of Penyes 'Verge del Sofratge', Roberto Carretero and Coly Pérez.
Social, cultural, festive and regional houses were the first to offer an image of the Mare de Déu del Sofratge, located at the gates of the church of Sant Jaume i Santa Anna and which yesterday wore a new crown. Then it was the turn of the members of the Clubs, l'Associació de Penyes 'Verge del Sofratge', the Comissió de Festes Majors Patronals, the queens and ladies of the Festes Majors Patronals and the municipal corporation.
After the offering, the infant queen, Paula Mayor, recited some verses dedicated to the patroness saint; and the older queen, Marina Carrillo, dedicated a few words to the people of Benidorm and the Mare de Déu del Sofratge. The mayor, Toni Pérez, was in charge of closing the event.
At the end of the offering, a fireworks castle was launched by Turís Pirotécnica.
The day of March 16 began at 05.30 am with l'Alba, in which hundreds of Benidorm people carried the patroness saint through the streets of the old town and the three beaches of the city. At midday, before the Major Mass, the Bearer of the Comissió de Festes Majors Patronals of 2019, Vicente Berenguer Devesa, was announced. After the Eucharist, the honorary members for this year were also named.
