Moors and Christians Fiesta in Oliva - Third Week of July
For their spectacle and elegance, the Moors and Christians fiestas of Oliva have carved a niche in the circuit of great processions of this deeply Valencian festival.
This high level of processions and quality of the fiesta has been reached by strengthening other aspects of the event to make it more participatory and more solemn at the same time: the day of the disembarkation, the “Saturday at daybreak” (which people attend without having slept after the street parties) the fiesta proclamations, embassies and visits to the clubhouses... So it is that these fiestas recalling the Christian re-conquest of the territory occupied by Arabs for more than 500 years, are enjoying a period of splendour that improves in quality, participation and above all in spectacle year after year in Oliva.
The town joins together to commemorate the struggle between the followers of the
Cross and those of the Half Moon. The Moors and Christians march in their
fantastic costumes, each with their own style of music from their band which
follows them around the town and there is a great spectacle of battles, dances,
carnival floats and mounted troops who perform spectacular displays in the
streets of the town. After a whole night of fun, many go to the beach for the
early morning disembarkation where the Moorish Ambassador lands to be greeted by
the Christian Ambassador. A great battle ensues to the sound of blunderbusses
and fireworks. The Moors win the fight but it is a short-lived victory.
On Saturday evening a fantastic procession, lasting for several hours, parades
through the town showing the Moors, Christians and the Pirates in all their
glory. They are accompanied by bands, floats, fire breathing dragons, street
performers who re-enact battle scenes and displays of fantastic horsemanship.
The castle erected in the Paseo is re-conquered and the Christian king takes up
residence after a furious battle. A fantastic firework display marks the end of
the festivities.
