Romería Virgen de la Victoria de Martos

A statue of the Virgen de la Victoria de Martos, adorned with a crown and surrounded by intricate floral arrangements, featuring a mix of roses and other flowers, set against a clear bright sky.

The Romería de la Virgen de la Victoria is one of the most deeply rooted and festive traditions in Martos, a historic town in the province of Jaén, Spain. Celebrated annually during the last weekend of May.

Table of Contents

Introduction

The occasion gathers thousands of local residents, many in traditional Andalusian dress, pilgrims, and visitors to honour the town’s cherished patron. The celebrations blend strong religious devotion with vibrant Andalusian social culture, turning the town and its surroundings into a dynamic community assembly.

A bustling street scene filled with people celebrating, dressed in traditional attire, including polka dot and Flamenco dresses. The crowd is lively, with families and friends enjoying the festivities in a vibrant, festive atmosphere.
Crowds Gathering in the Street Waiting for the Procession

The pilgrimage regularly includes nearly 100 beautifully decorated floats (carrozas) and traditional carriages, along with hundreds of horse riders (caballistas).

The Schedule for the Romería

The Romería is a three-day event traditionally beginning on Friday; however, preparations start earlier.

Pre-Pilgrimage Triduo (Leading up to Friday)

From Monday to Thursday evening, solemn religious services (Triduo) are held at the Ermita de San Bartolomé in honour of the Virgin.

Friday: The Procession

The image of the Virgin is carried in a joyous procession from the Ermita de San Bartolomé to the Real Parroquia de Santa Marta (the main town parish church). Hundreds of women dressed in traditional flamenco attire accompany the parade.

The following photographs were taken during the Friday procession on 29 May 2026. This is when the image of the Virgin is carried in a procession from the Ermita de San Bartolomé to the Real Parroquia de Santa Marta.

Women in traditional dresses walk down a street adorned with colorful festive bunting. The scene captures a lively atmosphere, showcasing cultural celebration and community spirit in a picturesque setting.
Going to the Romería Virgen de la Victoria de Martos
A vibrant street Romeria scene in black and white, filled with a large crowd of people dressed in traditional attire, celebrating together. The atmosphere is lively with a mix of music and cultural expressions.
Crowds Gathered for the Procession
A lively procession featuring musicians in white shirts and black pants, playing drums and marching. A crowd gathers along the street, with decorations and festive energy visible all around.
A Youth Band Leads the Procession
A lively processional scene during a local Romería Virgen de la Victoria de Martos festival, featuring a crowd dressed in festive attire, flowers in hand, celebrating under colorful decorations. The Main Throne with a Figure of the Virgen de la Victoria de Martos is visible in the distance
Here Comes the Main Throne with a Figure of the Virgen de la Victoria de Martos
A procession featuring a group of men in matching white shirts carrying a floral-adorned throne with a statue of the Virgen de la Victoria de Martos. They maintain a serious demeanor while marching down a street decorated for a celebration.
Bearers Carrying the Main Throne
A closeup photo of a group of the throne bearers wearing white polo shirts, with some waving and smiling. The scene is lively, featuring a diverse crowd in the background, contributing to a festive atmosphere, captured in black and white.
A close-up of a group of the throne bearers
A lively street celebration featuring a procession with a floral-adorned statue of the Virgen de la Victoria de Martos, surrounded by a crowd of people in traditional clothing, amidst white buildings and trees in the background, capturing the essence of a cultural festival.
A Pause in the Romeria Procession
A lively street scene during a festival, featuring a woman in a polka-dot flamenco dress talking to some of the throne bearers standing next to the flower adorned float with a statue of the Virgen de la Victoria de Martos. The atmosphere is vibrant and festive, capturing a cultural celebration.
The throne bearers talk to a woman in a polka-dot flamenco dress
A procession featuring a statue of the Virgen de la Victoria de Martos adorned with flowers, carried by a group of men in white shirts. The atmosphere is festive, with decorations and a crowd in the background, celebrating a local festival or religious event.
The Procession continues
A man dressed in traditional Spanish attire rides a white horse during a festive street event. The scene captures vibrant decorations and a lively atmosphere, with other horse riders in the background, emphasizing the cultural celebration.
Horseback Rider in Traditional Attire
A smiling man in a white shirt and hat rides a white horse, leading a group of horseback riders down a street. The scene is in black and white, capturing a lively atmosphere during a festive event.
A More Casually Dressed Horseback Rider at the Romeria
A man wearing a wide-brimmed hat and glasses smiles while seated on a horse. He is dressed in a light-colored shirt and dark trousers, with another man in the background wearing a similar hat. The image is in black and white, capturing a rural or traditional atmosphere.
Portrait of a Smiling Equestrian
A man dressed in traditional equestrian attire, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, sits atop a horse. The image is in black and white, capturing a moment of concentration and elegance at the Romería Virgen de la Victoria de Martos.
Elegant Horseman in Traditional Attire – all suited and…
Close-up of a rider's leg in a grayish saddle with decorative buttons, wearing ornate cowboy boots with fringes. The background features a horse, emphasizing the equestrian theme in a monochromatic setting.
…booted. Elegance in Equestrian Gear
A group of men in matching white shirts stands amid vibrant flower arrangements, carrying a decorative religious statue. The atmosphere suggests a traditional procession or celebration, highlighted by the intricate details of the statue and floral displays.
The Ornate Statue of the Virgen de la Victoria de Martos
A procession with a floral-adorned statue at its center, surrounded by people in traditional attire. Some wear white shirts while others don colorful dresses, celebrating a cultural event filled with community spirit and tradition.
Another Pause in the Procession
A statue of the Virgen de la Victoria de Martos, adorned with a crown and surrounded by intricate floral arrangements, featuring a mix of roses and other flowers, set against a clear bright sky.
A Close-up of the Beautifully Decorated Virgen de la Victoria de Martos
A crowded gathering at the Martos Romeria, featuring people in traditional attire and floral accessories. The backdrop includes rooftops and distant mountains, indicating a festive atmosphere. The image is in black and white, highlighting the lively scene.
The Crowds at the Romeria in Martos Against a Mountainous Backdrop
A bustling street filled with a large crowd dressed in traditional attire, participating in the Romeria festivities. Buildings line the narrow street, and a lively atmosphere is created by the gathering.
Crowded Streets During the Romería
A procession featuring a decorated throne with a statue of the Virgen de la Victoria de Martos adorned in flowers, accompanied by a group of men carrying it. Onlookers watch from a window above throwing flower petals. Festive decorations and a sense of community celebration in a vibrant street setting.
Throwing petals from an upstairs window

Saturday: The Pilgrimage to the Peña

On Saturday, the main pilgrimage starts as the Virgin is moved toward her sanctuary at the base of the iconic Peña de Martos. The procession includes traditional ox-drawn carts, decorated carriages, horse riders, and crowds of pilgrims in traditional dress, accompanied by music, dancing, and local food and drink shared along the route.

This procession has a totally different vibe; you can see photos of the Saturday procession, the Romería de la Virgen de la Victoria in Martos, on my Tapas in the Sun website.

Sunday: Field Mass and Horse Parade

The weekend culminates on Sunday with an outdoor field mass (Misa de Campaña) by the mountain shrine. This is followed by a large gathering of horse riders (caballistas) that takes place alongside a formal floral offering to the Virgin at the altar.

Film Photo Details

I took the photos during the Friday procession on 29 May 2026 using a Nikon F3 camera with a Nikkor f3.5 35-105mm zoom lens. The film was Ilford HP5 rated at box speed. Details of the camera settings are given under each photo.

I developed the film in 510-Pyro, diluted 1+100, for 8 minutes 15 seconds. Agitation was 30 sec continuously (12 inversions) at the start, then 5 inversions every minute.

The photos were digitised using a Nikon Zf mirrorless digital camera with a Tokina AT-X Pro Macro 100mm f2.8 D lens and processed using DXO PhotoLab 8 software.

Film roll No. 490.

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