What to See
Iglesia Parroquial San Andrés
The Parish Church of St. Andrew is by its importance and simple beauty the building most distinguished of the city. It is located in the geographic center, in Square of the Constitution.
It can be found in its interior an authentic jewel for the senses, an organ that offers magnificent concerts that attracts a numerous public eager to enjoy its extraordinary acoustic conditions.
It offered concerts that attract a large audience. This extraordinary instrument, dating from 1780, being restored in 1977, that has made him recover his brilliant sonority.
In addition it possesses a relatively modern iconography, dating of 1940, due to the earthquake that destroyed the city in the year 1829.
Hospital and Chapel of the Street Spain
Since the last third of last century there is a building called hospital but his mission was to accommodate transients. The current building was opened in 1929 and worked as a lady’s college attended by Carmelites. The attached chapel to the hospital is of neoclassical style and has been restored recently, at present the chapel is used as a place for official receptions of the Excellency Town Hall of Almoradí.
Festivities
Religious holidays such as Holy week and the Festivities of Almoradí have a great impact in the region of Vega Baja and among the inhabitants of the town. The patron saint festivities held in Almoradí are San Andrés, La Virgen del Perpetuo Socorro, el Cristo de las Campanas, los Santos de la Piedra (San Abdón and San Senén).
San Andrés
Legend tells it that on the eve of the commemoration of the anniversary of San Andrés appeared on Almoradí’s mosque a golden arm. The army, which had the city surrounded, led by Jaime I interpreted this fact as a signal of the saint indicating that it was the propitious moment for the capture of the city.
To commemorate the image of San Andres, Saint Patron of Almoradi, there are celebrated religious acts (Mass and procession), cultural events (competition of photography, theatre, musical events ...). These festivities take place on November 30, coinciding with the commemoration of the Saint and the Half a year festive.
La Virgen del Perpetuo Socorro
Our señora del Perpetuo Socorro is a former oriental icon of unknown origin. In 1919 the Marquis of Rioflorido donated a painting to the church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. That same year was founded the fraternity of Perpetual Help, the illusion and dedication with which they venerated the Virgin ended in the signature, by His Holiness Pope Pius XII, the appointment of the Virgin of the Perpetual Help as the patron saint of Almoradi in 1945.
The liturgies are celebrated in her honour during the month of June as the patron saint of Almoradi.
The day before the procession dedicated to Our Lady of Perpetual Help is an offering of flowers in which all associations are members of Almoradi, neighboring villages and all the inhabitants of Almoradí General.
The believers go with their Virgin in a procession that culminates with the placements on the altar of the temple. In conclusion all present singing the hymn "Salve Madre del Perpetuo Socorro".
San Abdón y San Senén
"Los Santicos de la Piedra"
A San Abdón y San Senén always have been known for "Los Santicos de la Piedra”. Like San Andreas, there is evidence that their images have been present in the five churches in this town.
It is unknown when the devotion began to the martyrs who belonged to noble Persians families who were immolated in Rome around 250 d. C., although it might have something to do with a huge epidemic that began in Cataluña in 1489 and reached the kingdom of Valencia, causing more than 11.000 deaths. Orihuela suffered terribly this scourge and when be free of the disease on July 30, Orihuela, -and this core suffered the plague-declared holiday to San Abdon and San Senén and agreed to celebrate an annual procession.
They are called "Los Santicos de la Piedra" because since ancient times farmers of Almoradí were going in prayer to them, asking that the hail or the inclemency of the weather does not destroy the crops in which all their determination, effort , energy, time and money had been used.
Throughout the centuries, the fervour has been kept towards them because really this municipal area, when there has been a storm with hailstorm, has always been less damaged than those in the vicinity. It is probably that some help will have to work the prodigy motivated by the emplacement of the term that is placed between a system of mountains on the one hand, and the hills that delimit the valley of Segura on the other, which might take part in the diversion of storms and tempests.
Though the agricultural sector already is not so predominant, never the devotion has decreased for the "Los Santicos de la Piedra" throughout the time.
Moors and Christians
Together with the celebration of this fair and festivals of Almoradí’s copatrones, which lasting from over a week full of acts and events, are celebrated the festivals of Moors and Christians who form the “Junta Central Festera San Andrés." This Meeting consists of 7 Extras Moors and 6 Christians.
The events start with the retreat, which is a multicoloured parade in which all the groups take part and serves as a preamble to the festivities.
The official beginning takes place with the presentation of the charges and the reading of the local festival opening speech of Moors and Christians, After which the Embassy Moor celebrates the Capture of the Castle by the troops Moors remembering Almoradí's history.
That same day the barracks and kabilas are opened and we will enjoy of the festivities with the members of the barracks.
And from here the parades take place that has a special interest for all visitors. The first is the Moorish parade.
The following day takes place the Christian Entry, which recalls the reconquest of the town by Christian troops with the symbolic Capture of the Castle and with the particular mission of the Barrel in which both sides competing for a barrel of sangria, which all the participants taste in the end to the act.
More InformationHoly Week
The Holy Week in Almoradí is a mixture of fervour, art and tradition that has been celebrated since the end of last century. The first confraternities in doing processions along Almoradí's streets were: El Santo Sepulcro, San Juan, La Virgen Dolorosa and Jesús Nazareno.
But it was from the 40s when really these fraternities were organized and n others were created as: the confraternity of San Juan or the Cristo de las Campanas, between others. In a beginning, the organization of the parades was taken out between the priest and the presidents of the Confraternities.
The Major Meeting of Confraternities is of recent creation. Its first president was Guillermo Morales Pertusa and currently the presidency of honour pass to Maria Teresa Pertusa. A few days before the Holy Week, the Meeting edits and publishes a magazine, where appear all the confraternities and all the acts that will take place.
The processions begin on Palm Sunday in the afternoon with the Virgen de los Dolores and culminate on Sunday of the Resurrection, in which all the fraternities parade. Besides the parades, during the Holy Week are organized numerous liturgies acts as: Masses for the souls of the dead and Triduos, as well as cycles of conferences and choral concerts and musical.
More InformationFair Cars
This fair has been celebrated for over 7 years in Almoradí getting thousands of visitors together. The celebration is in October and you can find from second-hand cars to commercial vehicles.
Fair "Tendency 15"
This fair is held in November and lasts a fortnight, hence its name. During those days, the establishments that make up the association of the "Furniture City" opened its doors 7 days a week. In this fair you can find the most amazing designs and the last thing in decoration.
Fair of Almoradí City of Services
Every 2 years there is celebrated in Almoradí this fair that is the major one of the local fairs of the region, with more than 5.000 meters of tent, more than 120 companies represented of all the Almoradí's economic sectors and in which the local sector receives the prominence that it deserves.
This local fair offers to all the visitors and citizens of the town of Almoradí this extraordinary shop window across which we know and live in first person the commercial and managerial reality, as well as to offer a playful space in the one that could enjoy the whole family, as for example, activities of animation, raffles, and a lot of offers that each of these companies offers to all its visitors.
Week of the furniture in Almoradí
We must speak here about the Association "Almoradí Town of the Furniture", association that brings together the most of the companies of the sector in Almoradí and that form the major exhibition of furniture of the whole Comunidad Valenciana, and that offer to all its clients a wonderful offer of furniture and articles for the decoration.
Gastronomic Week
Every two years in April, the restaurants in town offer the best of its local cuisine of Almoradí through special tasting menus that allow bringing the kitchen made with love for all who come to test the delights of our area of orchards and fresh products from our nearby coast.
Some typical dishes of Almoradi are: The cooked with balls, the drunken turkey, rustidera of grey mullet, salted fish or sweet like donuts, or monas or paparajotes.