Don Quixote, Chapter XXVIII

Los Remedios.

The Virgin of the Remedios Hermitage was built at the beginning of the 18th Century. In 1750 its parish priest Antonio del Soto enlarged it as thanks for the 'miraculous' cure of his blindness. Since then, a multitudinous fair has been held every year on the second Sunday of October. People come from all over the Maragatería, the Valduerna, the Cepeda, the Bierzo, the Cabrera, including by bus from Madrid. In reality, the Remedios is the fiesta of the Maragatería. Very early in the morning craftsmen from the area begin to set up their stalls: bedspreads from Val de San Lorenzo, flutes and castanets, earthenware from Jiménez de Jamuz, wicker baskets, clasp-knives from Valdespino and Priaranza, etc. Nor are lacking hazelnuts, chestnuts and walnuts from the Bierzo; and to eat, the octopus recently brought from Galicia is delicious.

But before lunch you may wish to attend mass. The virgin is carried in procession around the village by young women in full Maragato costume. The young women adorn the church and sing the ramo. Then the sound of the flute and the drum accompany the traditional Maragato dances. This is a unique opportunity to see the colourful costumes, often conserved and passed down from generation to generation.

Santa Marina

The Santa Marina Hermitage is located beside the river Duerna. It is a small church of mediaeval origin, where a singular gathering takes place on the first Saturday every May.

In the morning on this day a procession leaves the Remedios shrine in Luyego in the direction of Santa Marina. Another procession leaves Santa Marina bound for Luyego. The two processions meet on the banks of the river and together return to Santa Marina where there is mass followed by dances and an open-air picnic. In the afternoon, the statue of the Remedios is returned to its church while prayers are said.

Santa Marina is an intimate fiesta, which maintains the purity and freshness of ancient rites of Spring.