Moors and Christian Festival
Moraira celebrates a number of Spanish Fiestas and Festivals throughout the year. Amongst the most popular of these are the Moors and Christians festival. They are held to celebrate and commemorate the battles between the Moors (Muslims) and the Christians during a period in history known as the Reconquista from the 8th to the 15th century BC.
The festival in Moraira lasts a full week and celebrates the expulsion of the Moors from Valencia by the Christians. It is usually held during early June.
Throughout the week there is a full itinerary of activities, which takes place in the town and on the sea front. The parades through the town are quite stunning, with colour, glitz and glqamour, and lots of music.
This invasion by the Moors is re-enacted when they sail onto the beach, late in the evening with canon and musket-fire and overrun the Castle which is held by the Christians, there is lots of fireworks, bangs and dramatic music.
The following day the Christians stage an attack and retake their castle with even more noise.
Throughout the week there is a Medieval Andalusi Market, the Moors and Christians parade through the town. There is an International Music festival and live music concerts. Most mornings at 9.00am is the General Reveille with the firing of the Blunderbusses, and lots of bands parade through the streets from the Castle to Avd Portet.
On the final night of the festival the Moors and Christians parade through the town in full regalia which is quite a spectacle. The event is finished off with a spectacular firework display on the sea front.
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