The Calatrava Passion Route, which brings together 10 small towns in the province of Ciudad Real, in the community of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain, surprises with the decorations of history, culture and Catholic devotion among the solemnity and celebrations.
Cándido Barba, mayor of Aldea del Rey, explained to Prensa Latina that work is being done on the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Clavería Palace to convert the building and its surroundings from the late 18th and early 19th centuries into a high-end hotel and restaurant center. High average.
A strategy that seeks to promote the Passion Route as a tourist attraction, a desire that is also projected by the Sacred Convent and Castle of Calatrava la Nueva, built on mountainous rocks and with segments of volcanic origin in what was a fortress of the Christians who fled from Muslim invasions.
In the Gothic church of the Castle, the title of Doctor Honoris Causa was awarded in 1997 to the Italian philosopher and writer Umberto Eco, author of the famous novel The Name of the Rose.
For his part, Miguel Ángel Valverde, mayor of Bolaños de Calatrava, referred to the ceremony that is staged when Jesus Christ is arrested by Roman soldiers, after being betrayed by Judas in exchange for 30 coins. There are two processions, one that carries Jesus of Nazarene dressed in white and another of the “armaos”, the Roman soldiers and officers; After a sermon by a priest, the arrest on the Mount of Olives is announced. Then, Judas Iscariot goes up and kisses Jesus Christ and a soldier ties his hands to take him away in a procession, added Valverde.
In his house in Aldea del Rey, hours before, Pablo Molina, together with his family, prepares the “armaos” costumes that will serve to stage the commemorations. Carefully organized are the armor, suits and helmets of his wife and two daughters, in addition to his own.
Molina related that as a ranking officer, he wears a sword and a white bow on his golden helmet, with different clothing for moments such as the burial of Christ, after carrying the bag of coins with which he offers Judas 30 dinars in exchange for taking his teacher to the Mount of Olives.
On March 13, Molina and his family were protagonists of an act expressive of the Calatrava tradition in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, in the presence of Pope Francis.
Almagro, the axis of the celebrations each year during Holy Week, has a well-deserved prominence, holding the rank of one of the Most Beautiful Towns in Spain. It is one of the 10 municipalities that make up the Passion Route that dates back to the 16th century.
The origin of its name comes from the Arabic al-magra (red clay), present in the tones of the Plaza Mayor and other buildings in the city belonging to the Ciudad Real province, of the Autonomous Community of Castilla-La Mancha.
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