An ancient tradition in an old city.

Archaeological excavations have proved the existence of Paleolithic settlements in Cáceres. The city itself was founded by the Romans, destroyed by the Visigoths, and then the Muslims built a defensive fortress that was conquered by the Christians in the 13th century. Most of the buildings within the walls of the well-preserved old town (a World Heritage Site) date from the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

We were not aware of the candle procession shown in the picture, we just happened to be there when it entered the square, so it had to be taken handheld. The procession has been celebrated every February since 1534. The image of the Virgin of the Candles leaves the Ermita de las Candelas to be taken through the old town to the church of San Mateo, where a solemn religious ceremony is held, before returning to her usual residence.

Until recently, the procession took place in the mornings. As fewer people attended, it was moved to the afternoon, in the hope of attracting more devotees. Unsuccessfully. And given the absence of young people, I wondered how long this and many other similar traditions could last, centuries old as they are.

Europe / Spain

Lat: 39° 28' 23.07" N
Long: 7° 23' 16.27" W

→ maps.google.com [EXT]

Precision is: Medium. Nearby, but not to the last decimal.

D800+Nikkor 16mm f2.8, handheld shot, NX Studio, PTGui Pro, PS.