The villagers celebrate the Festa de l'Esperança with a procession to the Castle. | R.F.
In 1562 (probably), Capdepera was facing assault from Moorish pirates.
The number of ships was supposedly incalculable (always allowing for some exaggeration). Mercifully for the villagers, they had the image of the Mare de Déu de l’Esperança, Our Lady of Hope. They prayed and pleaded. Miraculously, a great fog descended. This so disconcerted and indeed terrified the invaders that they turned back. Capdepera was spared.
It isn’t known for certain that this was 1562, but a local priest, Antoni Gili, stated in an address in 1983 that by 1562 Capdepera was in a situation of “maximum peril”, such were the attacks by the Moorish “infidels”.
This was the address for the Festa de l’Esperança, for which there is a procession to the castle, a service and then a barbecue for one and all. On Monday evening there is a torch procession from the castle that is followed by folk dance.
Dates and location:
- 17/12/2023 at at Capdepera Castle Finalizado
Schedule:
From 7pm at Capdepera centre and castle