Moratalla festival in honour of the Honour of Santísimo Cristo del Rayo

Moratalla is small town that belongs to the Region of Murcia. This town has one of the largest municipalities in Spain. It is mainly a mountainous and comparatively cool territory. Moratalla is known in the region for its festivals, traditions and for being one of the country's major rural destinations.

Moratalla's sights include the Castillo Fortaleza, home to La Torre del Homenaje, a military-gothic style building which dates from the 15th century. The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción dates from the 16th century. There are two Roman bridges in Moratalla: the Jesus Christ Bridge over the Benámor River, and the Hellin Bridge over the Alhárabe River.

Moratalla celebrates a very special Easter and in July, the festival in honour of Santísimo Cristo del Rayo. This celebration dating from 1622 takes place in the streets of Moratalla, in which cows and bulls are set free. The fiesta has been declared of Regional Tourist Interest.

The annual Santísimo Cristo del Rayo Fiesta takes place from 11- 17 July 2014. During these days there are many festivities and the core of the fiesta starts from in the morning with the traditional Diana Flowery morning parade by the music band and the ringing of bells, followed by the running of wild cattle through the streets of the town.

Programme of events are listed below.

Friday 11 July

6am: Ringing of bells and Diana Flowery to the music band of Moratalla;
9am: Tasting snacks sponsored by the House over the Plaza de Abastos;
10am: First Bull Run. Without horses;
11.30am: Desencajonamiento two cows, one of them donated by "MTV";
1pm: Collection cattle and Charanga;
8pm: Parade of floats, which carry the Fiesta Queens;
12am: DJs Glorieta.

Saturday 12 July

10.30am: Children's Diana to the music band of Moratalla;
11am: First running of the bulls for children;
4.30pm: Parade by Band of Moratalla;
5.50pm: Fireworks by the barbarian Foundation;
6pm: First release – Bulls;
7pm: Desencajonamiento of a cow and a bull donated by "The star Burger".
8.30pm: Collection cattle and Charanga;
12am: Group Bazter performed at the Glorieta.

Sunday 13 July

7pm: Diana Flowery to the music band of Moratalla;
10am: First Bull Run. Without horses;
11.30am: Desencajonamiento two cows, one of them donated by Gustavo Romera;
1pm: Collection cattle and Charanga;
10pm: Flamenco Night;
12am: "Varieté Show magazine" at the roundabout.

Monday 14 July

12pm: Greasy Pole competition;
4.30pm: Parade by Band of Moratalla;
5.50pm: Fireworks by the barbarian Foundation;
6pm & 7pm: Running of the cows;
8.30pm: Collection cattle and Charanga;
11pm: "Passion Ballad" (traditional type of poetica song) with Juan Jumilla and sisters Alicia and Lorena Blázquez;
12am: Music.

Tuesday 15 July

10am: h-third and last closure of cows. With horses;
11.30am: Desencajonamiento two cows, one of them donated by "MTV".
1pm: Collection cattle and Charanga;
12am: Nocturnal by Domingo "the ceheginero" from the Nazareth single.

Wednesday 16 July

11am: Second running of the bulls for children;
4.30pm: Parade by Band of Moratalla;
5.50pm: Fireworks by the barbarian Foundation;
6pm: Running of the cows;
7pm: Desencajonamiento of two cows;
8.30pm: Collection cattle and Charanga;
11pm: Gunpowder;
12am: Music.

Thursday 17 July

4.30pm: Parade by Band of Moratalla;
5.50pm: Fireworks by the barbarian Foundation;
6pm: Running of the cows;
7pm: Single bull donated by Alimón Bullfighting Association;
8.30pm: Collection cattle and Charanga;
12am: Fireworks end of fiestas and anthem to Moratalla in Glorieta.