Festival
Fiesta del Pino de La Virgen
In the middle of the open pine forest, fragrant with resin, 5 km from Los Canarios and reached by a dirt track, the legendary Pino de La Virgen rises proudly. Its tar-rich heart oozes the sap that gives it life, and it jealously guards the Virgin. Its branches, like arms, protect the small image honoured with a romería by the faithful. It was once the festival of the caleteros — the name given to the people of a small, charming neighbourhood of the municipality — but today it is a popular festival for everyone in Fuencaliente.
In the middle of the open pine forest, fragrant with resin, 5 km from Los Canarios and reached by a dirt track, the legendary Pino de La Virgen rises proudly. Its tar-rich heart oozes the sap that gives it life, and it jealously guards the Virgin. Its branches, like arms, protect the small image honoured with a romería by the faithful. It was once the festival of the caleteros — the name given to the people of a small, charming neighbourhood of the municipality — but today it is a popular festival for everyone in Fuencaliente. They say that when this traditional festival became popular, people gathered from all over the municipality, and from other villages on the island too — such as the inhabitants of nearby Montes de Luna, a neighbourhood that was always closely tied to this festival, sharing other events in one neighbourhood or the other as well, such as dances, gallofas (communal gatherings) and more.
Nowadays, locals attend this traditional festival where music takes centre stage and those present enjoy a day full of traditional activities such as sack races, barrel-stave contests and a friendly display of lucha canaria (Canarian wrestling) between single and married men — not forgetting the Eucharist and the traditional communal lunch. This traditional festival is held every second Sunday of August.
