Velez Malaga Legacy of kings and May Crosses

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May Crosses and the legacy of Kings in Velez-Malaga

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Here is the essential information about the May Crosses and the legacy of the kings in Velez-Malaga :

• A few words about Velez-Malaga and these celebrations
• The dates and programme of the May Crosses
• Legacy of kings parade with map
• Where is Velez Malaga?
• What to do in Velez-Malaga?
• Booking accommodation
• Some useful links

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A few words about Velez-Malaga and the May Crosses

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Velez Malaga is the capital of Axarquia, in the province of Malaga. It is a small town with an incredible historical and artistic heritage.

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The May Crosses in Velez-Malaga

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The May Crosses in Velez-Malaga was declared in 2020 : Provincial Tourist Singularity Festival.

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As you will see below, this date is very special for the people of Velez-Málaga.

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It is a very old celebration: originally it was to commemorate the discovery by Saint Helena, mother of the emperor Constantine, of the true cross of Jesus Christ during her pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

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May crosses are often made with red flowers. In the Roman rite, this festival linked to the Passion of Christ was celebrated with red.

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The legacy of the Catholic Kings in Velez Málaga

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Legacy of kings parade with map

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In Velez-Malaga there is an important historical fact linked to the Cruz de Mayo. Velez-Malaga was taken over by the Catholic kings on 27 April 1487. However, King Ferdinand wanted to wait until the day of the Holy Cross, 3 May, to be handed the keys of the city by the Nasrid governor Abul Casin.

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Until that day, Velez Malaga was called Madinat Balish (مدينة بلش).

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This historical fact is unique, Velez Malaga is the only city in Spain whose incorporation into the Crown of Castile is linked to the date of the Holy Cross. For this reason, Velez-Málaga was known as Vélez-Málaga de la Cruz from the 15th to the 17th century!

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Below is a short video (2022) showing the parade of the legado de los reyes in Velez-Malaga:

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmkCGMblOKQ

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Dates and programme of Cruz de Mayo in Velez-Málaga

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This festival is of historical, ethnological and cultural interest.

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27 April – 07:00 PM : Parade through Velez Málaga retracing the history of the entry into the city by the Catholic Kings. Starting point : Cruz del Cordero

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2024 Programme :

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Between 27 April and 3 May: several festivities will take place, and of course you should go for a walk to see the twenty or so crosses on display in the town

3 May: awards for the most beautiful “cruces de mayo” in Velez Malaga

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Where is Velez Malaga?

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What to do in Velez Malaga?

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In the surroundings of the village, it is possible to find very nice activities:

• horse riding, on the beach or in the mountains
• diving in Nerja and Torrox
• guided tours (villages of Axarquia, Cordoba, Alhambra,…)
• via ferrata (Caminito del Rey,…)
• hiking (El Saltillo with the hanging bridge,…)
• canyoning (in the rio Verde,…)
• astrotourism
• snorkeling
• visit and Nerja Cave ticket

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Use the following link to access all the activities to do. during your holidays. This link provides you with all the details of each activity.

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Booking accommodation

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Below you will find a direct link to the available accommodation in Velez Malaga. Simply enter the desired dates.

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Booking.com

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Some useful links (car hire, other ideas for visits)

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Easy and economical bookings

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• your flight

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• taxi transfer

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• hire car

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• train and bus tickets

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And finally, here are some other experiences to do Malaga province :

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Discover other great places in Andalucia in the Andalucia blog pages.

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