Tree of friendship: Elche dedicates palm to Caravaca de la Cruz
Gesture emphasises cities’ religious and cultural connections during Jubilee Year
The mayors of Caravaca (L) and Elche (R)
The city of Elche has paid homage to Caravaca de la Cruz by dedicating one of its emblematic palm trees in the Municipal Park to the city in the neighbouring Region of Murcia.
The mayor of Caravaca, José Francisco García was visiting the city in Alicante province at the invitation of his counterpart there, Pablo Ruz, on the occasion of Elche's Jubilee Year to mark 75 years since the proclamation of the dogma of the Assumption (the formal declaration by Pope Pius XII in 1950, that the Virgin Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven at the end of her life).
Both mayors expressed their desire to strengthen ties based on their history, traditions, shared values and economic development.
Ruz emphasised their “spiritual connection”, since Caravaca is a Permanent Jubilee City and a destination for pilgrims.
At a reception in City Hall, García gave thanks for the dedication and noted the significance of palm trees for Elche, saying the recognition “twins us even more”.
Both cities also have cultural expressions declared by UNESCO as Intangible Heritage of Humanity: the Mystery Play of Elche in 2001 and the Wine Horses of Caravaca in 2020.
They also both have important local shoemaking industries.
The mayors also visited the Basílica de Santa María, where they made an offering of flowers in the chapel of the Virgen de la Asunción, the patron of Elche.
The dedication of the palm tree was also attended by municipal representatives and residents to show their appreciation for the city in Murcia.
The mayor of Caravaca praised the “generosity and affection of Elche” and expressed his wish to “keep building bridges between our cities, so that the value of faith, culture and work can be recognised”.
For more local events, news and visiting information contact the local tourist office (see below) or go to the home page of Caravaca Today.
Images: Ayuntamiento de Elche
Address
Calle De Las Monjas, 19, 30400 CARAVACA DE LA CRUZTel: 968 702424 / 968 701003
Oficina de Turismo de Caravaca de la Cruz
More information about the places of interest which can be visited in the municipality of Caravaca de la Cruz, along with what's on and local news can be found in the Caravaca Today.
Caravaca de la Cruz, in the north-west of the Region of Murcia, is one of only 5 Holy Cities in the Roman Catholic world, a centre of pilgrimage, along with Rome, Jerusalem, Santiago de Compostela and Santo Toribio de Liebana, and is home to the Cross of Caravaca, the Vera Cruz.
The status of Holy City was bestowed by Pope John Paul II in 1998, granting the City a Permanent Jubilee year every 7 years for perpetuity, the first one held in 2003 and the next in 2024.
The strategic and natural advantages of Caravaca de la Cruz have attracted the attention of settlers for more than 800,000 years, the Cueva Negra yielding remains of Homo Heidelbergensis, forbears of the Neanderthals and the municipality also houses important archaeological remains from the Argaric, Iberian and Roman cultures. many of these can be seen in the Municipal Archaeological Museum.
As a border town caught between the Catholic forces of Castille and the last remaining Moorish stronghold in Spain, Granada, Caravaca had a turbulent medieval history, but it was during this period that the legend of the Cross of Caravaca was born, bringing the religious orders which shaped the structure of Caravaca today, with its impressive hilltop castle and eclectic collection of churches and monasteries, religious tourism today being a backbone of the town´s economy.
Caravaca de la Cruz is a municipality with important natural resources, including extensive forests, part of which have protected status due to their wealth of flora and fauna, and due to the abundant water supplies is also a major area for canned fruit production, apricots in particular being an important crop.
Caravaca is renown for its important May Fiestas, held in honour of the Vera Cruz, which also incorporate the Moors and Christians celebrations and the Running of the Wine Horses.
Caravaca de la Cruz is also the home of Europe´s largest collection of ethnic instruments at Barranda, the Museo de Música Étnica Barranda and is the location of the Barranda festival de Cuadrillas, which celebrates the Region's ethnic music traditions.
The municipality is home to around 26,000 inhabitants and shares boundaries with Moratalla, Cehegín, Lorca, Puebla de Don Fadrique in the province of Granada and Vélez-Blanco in the province of Almería.
Opening times:
Weekdays: 10.00 to 14.00 and 16.30 to 19.30
Saturdays: 10.30 to 14.00 and 16.30 to 19.30
Sundays and public holidays: 10.30 to 14.00
Click for map, Caravaca de la Cruz Tourist Office
