Moors and Christians Festivities
FIESTA OFFICIALLY RECOGNISED FOR ITS PROVINCIAL TOURIST INTEREST
Colour, folklore, passion and a grand display of art are on parade in the streets of the town centre during the weekend nearest to Saint Peter’s feast day, the 29th of June. This is both a scenic and musical art, as its spectacular pageants and dramatisations feature stunning mises-en-scene with their own soundtrack, performed by the traditional marching bands.
The origins of this tradition go back to the mid nineteen-seventies. As Benissa’s economy transformed and agriculture gave way to services, the town had received a large influx of specialised workers. These families, which mostly hailed from Xixona, Cocentaina, Alcoi and Villena, were the ones that introduced this new festivity, which began to be held around the weekend of the 29th of June since 1980. Owing to its rapid and significant popularity, as well as its beautiful and spectacular nature, it was declared a festivity of provincial touristic interest in 2018.
