Santa Faz – Pilgrimage, History and Festival Traditions

Santa Faz is shaped by its pilgrimage church, devotion to the relic and recurring festivals. It is also home to historic routes through the old Huerta de Alicante and a building history dating back to the 15th century. If you choose Santa Faz for its pilgrimage tradition, you will find both specific architectural details and events with their own dates here.

Pilgrimage Church, Monastery and Building History

Behind the main altar of the pilgrimage church is an octagonal Camarín, where the relic of the Santa Faz is kept. This room combines a distinctive architectural feature with the religious significance of the sanctuary. The Santa Faz Tower is also part of the historic building fabric: it is a remnant from the 16th century, with a rectangular floor plan and a truncated pyramid-shaped structure. Its architecture is marked by classical and defensive elements.

The building history spans several periods. The first monastery and the first church of Santa Verónica were founded between 1489 and 1490. The Santa Faz Monastery was later reconstructed, between 1751 and 1756; completion continued through the period from 1766 to 1785. The early foundation and later reconstruction are distinct milestones in the history of the religious complex.

Pilgrimage Routes and Annual Pilgrimage

The pilgrimage route from the Co-Cathedral of San Nicolás to the Santa Faz Monastery is eight kilometres long. The historic routes through the old Huerta de Alicante are also part of the landscape heritage associated with Santa Faz. For generations, people have travelled these routes to venerate the relic and take part in La Peregrina. The route and the historic paths thus illustrate different aspects of the pilgrimage tradition, without requiring a specific route to be assumed for travel planning.

La Peregrina is the annual pilgrimage of Santa Faz. It takes place on the second Thursday after Maundy Thursday, so its date depends on the moveable date of Easter. If you want to plan your trip around this pilgrimage, use this date rule as a guide. Ceremonies to open and close the tabernacle take place at the Santa Faz Sanctuary Monastery and in the hamlet of Santa Faz.

Festivals, Market and Local Traditions

The Santa Faz celebrations include an event around the monastery that runs from Thursday to Sunday and features more than 100 stalls. A paraeta gives visitors the opportunity to sample anise rolls and Mistela. This culinary tradition adds a distinctive taste experience to the religious celebrations. The dates of each event are important when planning your trip.

The Fiestas de San Antonio de Padua are also celebrated annually in Santa Faz, around 13 June. The reference day is the Sunday immediately after 13 June, and the festivities run from Thursday to Sunday. The programme includes a paella competition on Saturday in the streets of Santa Faz. Individual programme items may change, so it is advisable to check the dates before visiting.

Another specific market date relates to 2024: the Mercado de Santa Faz ran from Tuesday, 9 April, to Sunday, 14 April, daily from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., in Plaza de Luis Foglietti and the surrounding streets. Six stalls offered traditional festival products, including medals, pottery, ceramics and garrotes. These details relate to 2024; check whether and when the market takes place in the year you plan to travel.

Discover more destinations: El Moralet, Monnegre.

For the main travel overview: Alicante.