The Moors and Christians of Villajoyosa
Where History meets Carnival in a theatrical display of costumes and re-enactments
On the banks of the Mediterranean Sea, with backdrops of palm trees, coloured house fronts, and a rising sun, the cacophony of cannon fire, airborne rocket fireworks, and gunpowder explosions signals the arrival of dozens of Moorish ships. This dramatic landing is met by the awaiting Christians on the beach who have come prepared with cannons and muskets, determined to protect their town.
The fiestas of the Moors and Christians go back 500 years to when a war-weary and newly formed Spain was discovering its national identity. After 7 long centuries of Muslim occupation and the constant ebb and flow of Christian borders on the peninsula, the Moors’ final bastion, Granada, fell to the Christian monarchs, Isabel and Ferdinand in 1492.
In celebration, many towns and villages began to hold re-enactments of the victories against the Moors, Turks and Barbary pirates. These were encouraged by the kings Felipe 2 and 3 of the 15th and 16th centuries who were more than happy to propagate the glories of the Spanish Empire. And today, the same national pride runs through the festivals as the townsfolk recreate the historic events that determined their country’s destiny.
