Herencia Carnival
The Herencia Carnival is the most colourful festival in the area and has recently been declared of National Tourist Interest. It offers no less than two weeks of music, dance and fun. Come and enjoy the parades, parties and other activities until Sardine Wednesday.
What is the Herencia Carnival like?
The Herencia Carnival begins with the Viernes de Prisillas, when the local peñas (clubs) liven up the Carnival. This same weekend is celebrated on the Saturday of the Anxious and the Sunday of the Desireful.
This is followed by the Semana de Tambores (Drum Week), which accompanies the different parades that take place during these 7 days. Then, on Carnival Thursday, the parades begin, until Saturday. On Carnival Sunday they usually prepare a big children's party.
On Carnival Monday, the funeral of the souls is celebrated, and there are also parades. On Tuesday they celebrate the Day of the Offertory and the Herencia Carnival culminates on Sardine Wednesday, the last parade of the festival, which coincides with Ash Wednesday.
Throughout these two weeks of celebration, there are some characters that stand out from the rest. Among them are Las Jinetas, the Gigantes y Cabezudos, 5 giants and 9 cabezudos, who lead the parade. And Perlé, a characteristic and burlesque element of the Herencia Carnival, wears an outfit similar to striped pyjamas and a matching sleeping cap.
Origin of the Herencia Carnival
The Herencia Carnival is considered to be the ultimate expression of the people fighting for their freedom. Because, although it was banned after the Civil War, as in other towns, in Herencia, there was not a single year in which they stopped celebrating the festivities openly, despite the risk it represented.
What to visit in Herencia?
If you are going to stay in Herencia during Carnival, then we invite you to get to know everything that this beautiful town has to offer, among them, these places that are part of the heritage of the town:
- Church of the Immaculate Conception: it is the first church in Herencia, and dates back to the 13th century, located in the Plaza de España. Apart from its architecture, you can also appreciate its interior design.
- Herencia Municipal Park: it was created in 1946, and you will find native vegetation, hedges and flowerbeds all along the route.
What to eat in Herencia? Gastronomy
One of the most delicious ways of getting to know the culture of a place is to try its gastronomy, and if you are in Herencia, we recommend you try these typical La Mancha dishes:
- Pisto manchego: a simple and delicious dish made with chopped tomatoes, peppers and seasoned with oil and salt.
- Caldereta de cordero: made with leg of lamb, tomato, onion, red pepper, garlic, white wine and olive oil, a succulent dish for those who enjoy the taste of meat.
- Buñuelos: you will find many of these in the carnival, they are a delicious fried flour dough with a spherical shape, in some cases sprinkled with sugar.
