September is less September thanks to the Candlelight of the Fuensantawhich every year helps Cordobans to make their return to routine easier. The same week in which most people return to their jobs or finalize the details of going back to school, Cordova lives one of its most popular festivalslocated in the Fuensanta neighborhood, in which They combine religion, tradition and play.
With more than two centuries of history, the Velá is celebrated every September around the festival of Our Lady of FuensantaAnd it is next to her sanctuary, in the popular Plaza del Pocito, in the Fuensanta neighborhood, where the festival takes place, which lasts for four days, with the virgin and the alligator as protagonists, with the permission of the famous little bells (the traditional souvenir that accompanies each edition of the festival).
This year, the Velá de la Fuensanta is celebrated From Friday 6th to Monday 9th Septembera local holiday on the day of La Fuensanta, September 8, on a Sunday. From the Delegation of Festivals and Traditions of the City Council of Córdoba they emphasize that, one more year, the festival is divided into three sections: the solemn, with the mass, the transfer of the Virgin and the proclamation and, already on Saturday, the mass in the Cathedral and the subsequent transfer of the Virgin to the sanctuary in procession. The traditional, with Sardines, roe and salmorejadaand the fun part, with attractions for children and musical performances.
One of the main novelties this year is that the opening speech will be given hours after the Virgen de la Fuensanta leaves in procession towards the Cathedral.
Routes and procession of the Virgin of Fuensanta
The transfer of the Virgen de la Fuensanta to the Cathedral will take place on September 6, while the solemn procession will be held on Saturday, September 7. The novelty this year is that the transfer will take place the prayer of the Via Lucis; while the Saturday procession will enter the neighborhood via Fuensanta Avenue, Pelagio and Cuesta de la Pólvora.
Itinerary Day 6 -Transfer of the Virgin
Departure time: 8:30 p.m.
Arrival time: 10:20 p.m.
Band: Fuensanta Band in Cruz de Guía.
Itinerary: Same route as in 2023.
14 significant points have been establishedrelating to each of the stations, along the route where the corresponding prayers will be recited: 1. Well of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fuensanta. 2. End of the ramp Plaza Santuario / Avd. Fuensanta. 3. Avenida de la Fuensanta (Proxi). 4. Agustín Moreno. Parish of Santiago. 5. Agustín Moreno. Convent of Santa Cruz. 6. Lineros. Altar of San Rafael. 7. Lineros / Plaza del Potro. Triumph of San Rafael. 8. Cardinal González / Caldereros. Fountain. 9. Cardinal González No. 52. 10. Cardinal González / Caño Quebrado. 11. Magistral González Francés No. 21. Cathedral Chapter. 12. Gate of Santa Catalina. 13. Patio de los Naranjos. Fountain. 14. Gate of the Palms.
Itinerary Day 7 – Solemn Procession
Departure time: 20:45
Arrival time of the Guiding Cross: 11:35 p.m.
Band: Fallen and Fuensanta Band in the Guide Cross. Maestro Tejera Band accompanying the passage of the Virgin.
Foreman: Manuel Orozco.
Itinerary: The route will be the same as in previous years.with a change when arriving at the markets. Instead of the usual route, the district will be entered via Avda. de la Fuensanta, Pelagio, and Cuesta de la Pólvora.
The town crier of the Velá de la Fuensanta 2024
After the transfer of the virgin on the 6th, the proclamation of La Velá will take place at 10:00 p.m., which in this edition is in charge of the the lawyer, writer, singer and contributor to Diario CÓRDOBA Marcos Santiago Cortés. The town crier was born, raised and lives in the La Fuensanta neighborhood.From the neighborhood I know all its people, its virtues, because it has few defects,” he said in his presentation. Cortes showed himself proud and has described the area as a “model” where “its hard-working and honest people have managed to make it a quiet, middle-class neighborhood.” La Fuensanta, for him, “It is an example of a neighborhood that started from the bottomis fighting and has managed to escape social exclusion.” In the speech, as could not be otherwise, he will speak about “his people” and faith from a social point of view.
Sardines, roe and salmorejá
The Velá is also a gastronomic event with three outstanding events that are part of the tradition of this festival: the sardine, the roe and the salmorejá. The first will take place on Saturday 7th, at 13:00; the egg stew will be on Sunday 8th, at 13:00; and the salmorejá on Monday 9th, at the same time.
XIV Alligator Route
Along with the gastronomic events, another of the classics of La Velá that is strengthened year after year is the Route of the Alligator, with a canoe ride along the Guadalquivir River on September 7, 8 and 9. The departure will take place from the Nautical Center of the Balcón del Guadalquivir to the Roman Bridge, and back.
Information and registration will take place on Friday 6th at 19.00. On Saturday and Sunday there will be crossings at 10.00, 11.30, 13.00, 16.30, 18.00 and 19.30; while on Monday they will only take place in the morning.
The 2024 Fuensanta Festival programme
In addition to the activities mentioned above, the Velá de la Fuensanta will feature musical performances, children’s activities and attractions for the little ones, installed on the stretch of Avenida de la Fuensanta next to the church. This is the programme for the Velá de la Fuensanta.
Friday, September 6th
19.15 hours. Blessing of the waters of the well. Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fuensanta.
19.30 hours. Mass and procession to the Cathedral.
9:00 p.m. Ambient music.
22.00 hours. Official opening of the Velá with the opening speech by Marcos Santiago Cortés-
10:30 p.m. Copla performance with Isabel María España. Next, musical entertainment with Aldebarán.
Saturday, September 7th
12:00 pm. Fruit tasting with the collaboration of AVV San José Obrero and Mercacórdoba.
1:00 p.m. Popular tasting: ‘Sardiná’.
2:00 p.m. Musical performance by the group ‘Oro y Plata’
19.30 hours. In the Cathedral, solemn Eucharist in honour of Our Lady of Fuensanta. Later transfer of the Virgin to the Sanctuary.
9:00 p.m. Narizotas children’s show.
10:00 p.m. Choirs in La Vela: The art of our land and Southeast Rhythm.
11:30 p.m. Performance by Manuel Santiado.
Sunday, September 8th
10.30 am Chapter Mass at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fuensanta.
13.00 hours. Ambient music.
13.00 hours. Popular tasting: ‘La huevá’.
2:00 p.m. Performance by Cordoba academies: Flora e Hija Academy and Jorge del Pino Academy.
9:00 p.m. Dance academy ‘Dance with me’.
10:00 p.m. Flamenco versions: Claustrophobia.
00.00 hours. Concert of covers with ‘La conde band’.
Monday, September 9th
12.30 pm. The magic of Mago Aroca
13.00 hours. Popular tasting: ‘La salmorejá’
13.30 hours. Samborejo Batucada parade.
8:30 p.m. Musical entertainment with DJ.
9:30 p.m. Fitflamc dance group.
Children’s Day
Monday will be the day for children and Attractions will have a 50% discount. The opening hours of the attractions are Friday 6th, from 8:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m., Saturday and Sunday, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m., and Monday 9th, from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
