Casa de Andalucía in Benidorm begins the celebrations of the Corpus Christi Pilgrimage on the 45th anniversary of its foundation

The Casa de Andalucía in Benidorm began yesterday afternoon, Thursday, the celebrations of the traditional Corpus Christi Pilgrimage, a pilgrimage in which Andalusians residing in Benidorm commemorate the 45th anniversary of the founding of this entity in the city. A mass and the transfer of the Virgen del Rocío from the Almudena church to the centre of Benidorm marked the start of these festivities, which will continue until next Sunday with a complete program of events.

Dozens of people filled the pews of the church in Foietes-Colonia Madrid neighbourhood to participate in the Rocío mass dedicated to Blanca Paloma, with the president of the House of Andalusia, Leonor Jiménez, and the queen of 2024, Lucía Romero, to the head. Along with them, the mayor of Benidorm, Toni Pérez, also participated in the Eucharist; the mayor of Fiestas, Mariló Cebreros; and other councillors of the Municipal Corporation, in addition to the president of FECUAS, the Cultural Federation of Andalusia in the South of the Valencian Community, Luis Romero; the queens of the 2024 Patron Saint Festivals, Valentina Almodóbar Climent and Laia Zamora Picó, and their bridesmaids; as well as the presidents of the Festival Committee and the Penyes Association, Maria Dolores Cano and Jaume Cortés.

After the Rocío mass, and before beginning the transfer of the Virgin, the Casa de Andalucía took advantage of the commemoration of its 45th anniversary to pay tribute to different members of this group. Among them, Francisco Jiménez Manosalva, one of the founding partners of this entity in the city, who was named honorary president of the anniversary; Soledad Villalón, maid the Virgen del Rocío in Benidorm for more than 25 years, along with her three colleagues who serve this image; and Joaquín Reyes and Juan José López, members of the 'Ecos de Andalucía' choir who have been singing at this mass for more than a decade.

After these emotional tributes, the image of the Virgin left the temple on the shoulders of the bearers and was accompanied by the Andalusians in Benidorm through different streets of the city to later return to this neighbourhood to proceed with the inauguration of the tent set up on Mercasa, where the events will take place throughout the weekend.

This Friday, at 8:30 p.m., there will be the reception of authorities; at 10 p.m. there will be a sevillanas and flamenco costume contest; and at 11 p.m., the performance of a DJ, until 2:30 in the morning, when the salve to the Virgen del Rocío will be sung.

On Saturday, at 10 p.m., there will be different raffles and a party, which will continue at 11:30 p.m. with the concert by Diego Benjumea, from the group 'Cantores de Hispalis'; in addition to the singing of Salve and Chocolate starting at 2:30 a.m.

Finally, on Sunday, at 6 p.m., the transfer of the Virgen del Rocío back to the Almudena church will take place. At 7 p.m., a Rocío mass will end the celebrations of the Corpus Christi Pilgrimage.