The Mediaeval Market of Orihuela opened its doors yesterday, Friday January 30th, plunging the historic town into the Middle Ages for three days of activities till Sunday . This 26th edition of the market will be characterised by severe winds, including an orange alert for significant gusts, whereas the previous year’s was ruined by rain. This has already led to the cancellation of at least Saturday morning, when gusts could reach 90 km/h, potentially overshadowing the major event of the entire weekend.
The event, one of the most emblematic on the municipality’s festive and cultural calendar, has established itself as one of the largest, oldest and most recognised mediaeval markets in Spain and one of the most important in the Valencian Community.
With a schedule from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., merchants in the historic centre’s streets and squares host a wide range of activities that blend tradition, heritage, culture, and leisure, drawing thousands of visitors along a route that connects the city with the roots of its three cultures—Arab, Jewish, and Christian—through exhibitions, workshops of ancient trades, entertainment, and music and theatre companies related to each of them. and craftspeople showcase their goods in over 300 booths, with cuisine and bars providing a diverse range of culinary options.
Through games, historical encampments, falconry displays, and even knight tournaments with an animal farm, camels, and donkeys, magic and history surprise guests with live performances in an immersive setting.
Discover Orihuela’s rich historical and cultural legacy with the programme’s special opening of museums and heritage sites.
The day began, as is traditional, with the visit of the schools, culminating with the official inauguration from the balcony of the City Hall, where the Councillor for Festivities, Rocío Ortuño, gave a solemn speech to the public gathered in the square, with an archaic and ceremonial tone, evoking the historical origins of the Mediaeval Market and the fair privilege granted to the city in the year 1272 by King Alfonso X the Wise .
The councilwoman emphasised the historical legacy, the coexistence of the three cultures, and the popularity and participation of one of the most representative events from the balcony of the town hall.
The opening ceremony was attended by the mayor of Orihuela, Pepe Vegara; the Armengola, Ana Belén Navarro; the president of the Association of Moors and Christians Festivals of Saints Justa and Rufina, Enrique Riquelme; and the ambassadors, Eduardo Aparicio Nortes and Francisco Sánchez Mateos, as well as the Syndic Bearer of the Glorious Banner of the Oriol, María Ángeles Esteban, and councillors of the Municipal Corporation.
There was also international institutional representation, with the attendance of the municipal president of Zacatecas, Miguel Ángel Varela Pinedo, under the framework of the twinning between Orihuela and Zacatecas, which maintains the cultural and historical linkages between both cities .
Scenarios
Activities centred around mythology and the three cultures are held in Santiago Square, and include storytelling, dances, interactive workshops, and a period encampment that recreates everyday life in the Middle Ages. Encampments, workshops, and performances of comedy, magic, mediaeval circus, oriental dance, and aerial displays may all be found at Carmen Square.
Hospital Street is orientated towards families, with a petting zoo, camels, and donkeys, as well as a falconry exhibition. Condesa Vía Manuel Square hosts large-scale performances and folk music events. Scenarios
Activities centred around mythology and the three cultures are held in Santiago Square and include storytelling, dances, interactive workshops, and a period encampment that recreates everyday life in the Middle Ages. Encampments, workshops, and performances of comedy, magic, mediaeval circus, oriental dance, and aerial displays may all be found at Carmen Square.
Calle Hospital is orientated towards families, with a petting zoo, camels, and donkeys, as well as a falconry exhibition. Condesa Vía Manuel Square hosts large-scale performances and folk music events.
While Plaza de la Anunciación and Plaza de la Soledad showcase thematic exhibitions, Plaza del Salvador offers activities, attractions, and kid-friendly performances. Puppet shows, games, entertainment, and interactive workshops are all available at Plaza de Santa Lucía.
The Santo Domingo esplanade is the site for knight tournaments, as well as hosting children’s games, attractions, storytelling and oriental music and dances, while the Santo Domingo Arch holds an Arab camp with reconstruction of daily life, artisan workshops and interactive activities.
The market will close at 8 p.m. on Sunday with a grand parade along the route with all the entertainment, music, and theatre groups. Armengola’s opening speech is scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m., following the parade that starts at 5 p.m. This will complete a celebration that marks 26 years of encounter, tradition, and coexistence in a city that never gives up.
Parking
The parking spaces behind the Álvarez de la Riva health facility, on the Beniel road, next to the gas station, and on the Hurchillo road, from where you can easily approach the market area, are just a few of the locations that the City Council has made accessible to the historic centre.
Organisation
The company that has won the contract for its organisation is La Fragua de Vulcano-Espectáculos AMB Producciones, which offered the City Council a fee of 24,000 euros , which means that the Council will receive double the amount in its municipal coffers compared to last year , when the same company was awarded the contract with 12,280 euros, in both cases based on a starting price of 2,284 euros.
The file’s accompanying economic research estimates that the celebration will cost 118,096 euros, while the minimum expected income is 133,100 euros.
Author: Derek Appleton
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