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ARCHIVED - Running of the Wine Horses recognised by UNESCO
The race up the hill to the castle takes place every year on 2nd May
This year the annual Running of the Wine Horses in Caravaca de la Cruz in the north-west of the Murcia region has been awarded Intangible Cultural heritage by UNESCO.
Caravaca de la Cruz has joined the ranks of Charfia fishing in the Kerkennah Islands of Tunisia, the annual Kupres grass mowing competition in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Sauna Culture of Finland and the Nar Bayrami traditional pomegranate festivity and culture in Azerbaijan in being declared an event of Intangible Cultural heritage by UNESCO.
It’s taken ten years for the whole process to obtain the listing and is the only representative accepted from Spain this year.
The annual fiestas of the Vera Cruz are held at the beginning of May every year, the most popular element being the race up to the castle by the wine horses on the 2nd May, wearing their hand-embroidered mantels.
A completely new set of embroidered mantels are made for each horse every year and they really are extraordinary.
The peñas compete for the prizes of best-mantel and fastest horse up the hill, the winner normally completing the dash up to the castle in around 8 seconds.
Last year the fiestas were cancelled due to the coronavirus, but hopes are high that this year the festivities can continue as normal, and this year with the recognition from UNESCO as an added bonus.
References to this extraordinary event can be seen all over the city of Caravaca de la Cruz, and many of the shops have pieces of the embroidered mantels hanging inside their premises.
There are two museums dedicated to these fiestas:
The Museo de la Fiesta, which shows events throughout the 5 day period and is located opposite the main tourist information office. Click Museo de la Fiesta
The Casa Museo de Los Caballos del Vino: this is run by the peñas themselves and has an extensive collection of the embroidered mantels used during the Running of the Wine Horses. This museum offers a better selection of the embroideries, including those which have won the competitions for the best mantels, and is well worth a visit in order to see these extraordinary works of art up close.
There is also an attractive statue in the Plaza de los Caballos del Vino and another at the foot of the run up to the castle.