January 6 Auto de los Reyes Magos inthe Alhama de Murcia village of El Berro

A medieval mystery play adapted in the municipality of Alhama de Murcia and performed in the streets of the village of El Berro

January 6 Auto de los Reyes Magos inthe Alhama de Murcia village of El Berro On 6th January, Three Kings Day. an event known as the Auto de los Reyes Magos takes place in several different towns across the Region of Murcia, among them the village of El Berro in the mountains of Sierra Espuña, consisting of a performance of a medieval nativity play.

This is one of the two oldest pieces of theatrical literature in Spain, the other being La Asunción de la Virgen, the famous Elche mystery plays, which are performed in Elche on 14th and 15th August every year.

In the eighteenth century Felipe Fernández Vallejo, the Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela, discovered an ancient manuscript in the library of Toledo Cathedral, which was named the Auto de los Reyes Magos. It was dated to around 1150, making it the oldest known theatrical piece in the Spanish language, and tells the story of the Three Kings following the star to find the baby Jesus.

January 6 Auto de los Reyes Magos inthe Alhama de Murcia village of El Berro

The tradition of performing the Auto was subsequently revived and although each of the many versions of the play are based around the same manuscript and the same core, regional variations have inevitably resulted in a number of different interpretations of the work: here in Murcia there are several slightly different versions, each with identifiable local influences.

This Auto de los Reyes Magos in El Berro is led by the musical Cuadrilla of the village, which leads the Three Kings on horseback through the streets as the play is performed at different stop-off points.

January 6 Auto de los Reyes Magos inthe Alhama de Murcia village of El Berro

Dialogue is in Spanish, so it can be difficult for non-Spanish speakers to follow (although most of us know enough about the nativity story to get the gist!), but there's nothing to beat a warming drink in one of the local restaurants and maybe a walk in the regional park of Sierra Espuña afterwards (or the Mass which is held at the end of the event). To eat in one of the local restaurants booking is absolutely necessary on this day!

The Auto begins in the car park outside the campsite and is invariably not quite at the time advertised!

For more local events, news and other information go to the home page of Alhama Today, or contact the local tourist office (telephone 968 633512).

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Address

Tourist Office Alhama de Murcia, Plaza Constitucion. Frente Auditorio, nº 10, 30840, ALHAMA DE MURCIA

Tel: 968 633 512

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Oficina de Turismo de Alhama de Murcia

Alhama de Murcia Tourist Office

Alhama de Murcia Tourist information office is located on the edge of the Plaza de la Constitución, just a few metres away from the underground car park and the Town hall of Alhama de Murcia.

The tourist office offers free guided audiotours in English which take visitors around the historical sites of interest in Alhama. These be loaned at any time, although allow an hour and a half to complete the tour, and when loaning the audio equipment visitors are asked to leave passports or ID cards with the tourist office.

The office also carries a full range of leaflets for the archaeological museum of Los Baños, which is built around the historic spa which gives Alhama its name, and the mountains of Sierra Espuña, which is also an important area within the municipality of Alhama. Areas such as El Berro and Gebas have a number of interesting routes which can be followed and there are several picnic areas and good walking routes within the Sierra Espuña natural park.

The tourist office also carries leaflets for the many cultural events and fiestas which take place in Alhama throughout the year, including Los Mayos, Semana Santa, Christmas,the Romería of La Candelaria and the Auto de los Reyes Magos in El Berro.