Due to the annual pilgrimage from the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Hope on Sunday the route will be closed to traffic during the late afternoon and evening.
The statue of Our Lady of Hope, sporting her new cloak especially prepared for the occasion, will leave the Sanctuary at 5pm after mass. If it is a fine day many residents of Calasparra walk up to the Sanctuary in order to accompany the statue on foot over the mountains to the town where the statue will remain in the main church of the Merced until June 5.
There will be a welcoming ceremony at the gates of the Caverina Football Ground at approximately 7.30pm followed by a procession to the Merced Church where the statue will enter by the Gate of Hope (opposite the bank).
The Patron Saints, the Association Band of Music and representatives of the various religious brotherhoods will take part in the procession.
This year a special homage will be paid to the residents of the Calle Socovos who by tradition throw rose petals from their balconies and lay a carpet of sweet smelling rosemary in the path of the procession.
Roads from the Sanctuary, the roundabouts, the main road past the Chapel of Rest and the main entrances to the town centre will be closed to traffic to accommodate the event. Look out for the round metal signs for exact closure times.
