El Rocío is one of Spain's most iconic and traditional pilgrimages, held annually in Andalusia. The festival is a powerful mix of religious devotion, folkloric celebration, and regional identity. With over one million pilgrims attending, it's one of Europe's largest religious gatherings.
Every year, usually around late May or early June (coinciding with Pentecost/Whitsun), hundreds of thousands of pilgrims travel from cities and villages across Spain — particularly from Seville, Huelva, Cadiz, and Malaga — to the small village of El Rocío in Almonte, Huelva province.
What makes El Rocío unique is the journey itself: pilgrims travel by foot, on horseback, or in beautifully decorated ox-drawn wagons (carretas), forming colorful processions that can last 3-7 days depending on starting point. The pilgrimage combines deep Catholic faith with Andalusian traditions, flamenco music, and a festive atmosphere unlike any other religious event.
Pilgrims are organized into hermandades (brotherhoods) representing different towns and neighborhoods:
The focus of devotion is the statue of Nuestra Señora del Rocío ("Our Lady of El Rocío"), affectionately called "La Blanca Paloma" (The White Dove):
While pilgrimages start days earlier, the village comes alive on the weekend:
El Rocío sits on the edge of Doñana National Park, one of Europe's most important wetlands: