The Great Week of Corpus Christi in Toledo, Fiestas of International Tourist Interest, is approaching. On May 26, 2016, Thursday, the traditional procession of the “Corpus Christi “takes place. An exceptional occasion to visit the most “adorned Toledo” and enjoy the numerous festive activities prepared by the Town Hall. Update: the entire programme of activities is now available.
The Custody of Henry of Arfe, during the Corpus Christi procession in Toledo. Photo: Chema Pinto
Index of Contents
Great Week CORPUS CHRISTI Toledo 2016
PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES
THURSDAY, 26 MAY
08:00 h.: Royal Bomb Fire.
09:00 h.: Parade of Gigantones and the famous “Tarasca”, accompanied by the Young Band “Diego Ortiz”. Departure: Plaza del Ayuntamiento Itinerary: El de la Carrera Procesional
Informatión from Toledospain.click
10:00 h.: SANTA MISA IN THE SOLEMNITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI IN HISPANO-MOZÁRABE RITO, presided over by His Excellency and Reverend Monsignor D. BRAULIO RODRÍGUEZ PLAZA, Archbishop of Toledo, Primate of Spain, Superior in charge of the Hispano-Mozarabic Rite.
11:00 h.: SOLEMNE PROCESSION of the Most Holy Corpus Christi in the Custody of Arfe;
Departure: S.I. Catedral Primada, Puerta Llana.
PROCESSIONAL RIDING:
Corpus processional route in Toledo (Source: Toledo City Council)
Do you want to do a very special route in Toledo? Click here.
CONCERTS – Live music every day: 14 free concerts
This year, the City Council has maintained the firm belief to offer “a Corpus for the enjoyment of all” and, for that reason, the mayor has announced that “the price could not be an obstacle”, so that “all concerts and activities will be free“.
Specifically, he has specified, these concerts will take place in the framework of five different musical spaces of the city, “to enjoy the heritage” such as: the Plaza de Toros, Paseo de Merchán, La Peraleda, San Pedro Mártir and the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
Among the most outstanding concerts, are that of Carlos Baute on Saturday 21 May in the Plaza de Toros; or those that will host the Paseo de Merchán, on Wednesday 25 with the 40 Pop Corpus with Auryn, Dasoul, Jadel and Nelou ; the concert of ‘ The Golden Age of Spanish Pop ‘ on Thursday 26; the concert Cadena Dial Corpus with Fangoria or the Máxima Corpus on Saturday 28 with the best Dj´s in the country.
Other venues such as La Peraleda will host renowned artists and groups from Toledo who will share the stage, such as Lujuria, Doss Hoyse and Aria Ignis on Sunday 22; Los Zigarros and La Ganga Cale on Tuesday 24; Miss October and Lilith on Friday 27 or the rock concert La Trampa on Sunday 29.
In the Town Hall square, the concert by Soleá Morente on Monday 23rd; by Ana Alcaide on Tuesday 24th or by María Toledo on Sunday 29th. In San Pedro Mártir, on Wednesday 25 it will be the turn of Japanese Jiro Yoshikawa.
Concert ticket pick-up notice “CARLOS BAUTE” -21 May <br />
The delivery of the entrance/invitation will take place through:
- Telematic distribution of Liberbank from Wednesday 11 May. (cost 1€)
- From Monday 16, from 10:00 to 14:00 hours in:
- Tourism Office of Toledo City Council.
- At the Box Office of the Plaza de Toros.
** On the day of the concert the ticket offices will be opened 4 hours before the opening of the doors, so that outstanding or surplus invitations can be collected.
Toledo “gets long” to receive the Corpus Christi feast. A full programme of events has been organised to complete the procession that this year parades through the streets, under awnings and with the aroma of thyme and incense. Next May 26, the city will once again celebrate Corpus Christi, its largest festival, only on Thursdays, as was the tradition. Several years ago the “additional” Sunday procession was eliminated.
Assembly of Corpus awnings in Toledo on May 21, 2014
Assembly of Corpus awnings in Toledo in 2015
Placement of the Corpus awnings at the beginning of the 20th century (Photograph Rodríguez). Rodriguez background. Provincial Historical Archive. Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha. Source: Blog Toledo Forgotten
As every year, several festive activities will be programmed for these dates:
- Music concerts.
- Religious activities.
- Activities in the processional route and old town.
If you want to visit a Toledo perfumed, festive, decorated, with thousands of people crowding its streets, restaurants and hotels, visit the city these days.
TOLEDAN PATIOS
Patio of Toledo.
A very pleasant activity these days is to access the numerous patios in Toledo which, on the occasion of this festivity and the organised competition, are decorated to receive visitors to the city. During the days of Corpus Christi, different activities can be carried out in these cozy corners scattered throughout the centre of Toledo. All the information on the official website: http://www.patiosdetoledo.es/
GENERAL HOURS OF VISITS OF PATIOS DURING THE CORPUS, from 23 to 28 May 2016:
Monday to Friday, 18:00 to 22:00 h.
Saturday, 12:00 to 14:00 and 18:00 to 22:00
The list of patios is available at this link.
I’m sure you’re also interested: Why do they drink in a botijo on August 15 in Toledo?: El agua de la Virgen (Toledo Cathedral Tradition)
Guided tours of the Corpus patios
If you would like to take a guided tour of some of the courtyards of the processional route, visit this information: Route through the courtyards of Corpus Christi in Toledo.
Tradition has it that once installed “Corpus awnings have to get wet”. That is why it is very common for a storm to leave the awnings that are installed to cover the processional route well wet (and with large bags of water):
What happens when Corpus awnings get wet? (Photo 17/05/13)
The night prior to the procession (this year falls on Thursday 26 May) a parade runs through the streets through which the procession will run with the enormous and rich Custody of Arfe. In the afternoon (and Thursday morning before the procession), the public attends the exit of the “Tarasca and the gigantones” that frighten the children. Get to know this curious tradition here:The Tarasca and the gigantones of Corpus. In the evening, a procession made up of authorities, musicians and numerous public, make the processional journey. Many toledanos and visitors take advantage to accede to the private patios (and of some public buildings) that exclusively in these dates open their doors. The courtyards are profusely decorated with plants and ornaments, which is an exceptional spectacle that is only seen during these days of the year.
The night before, thousands of people take the opportunity to visit these patios and the processional route fully decorated. If you want a quieter time, on Thursday 26 May, after the procession, the streets are quite quiet.
Photo by jesusexto at Flickr.com. La Tarasca parading through the streets of Toledo
ROUTES BY TOLEDO
Do you want to do a very special route in Toledo? Click here.
Useful tourist information about Toledo:
- Where to park for free in Toledo?
- Where to eat or dine on “legend” in Toledo?
- Where to eat cheap in Toledo
- Monuments you can visit for free in Toledo
- 20 must-see monuments and places to visit in Toledo
- Eight good tips for visiting Toledo for the first time
- Visiting Toledo with children
- Calendar of routes and guided tours in Toledo
- Secret routes through Toledo
- Seven routes or guided tours not to be missed in Toledo
- What to see in Toledo. A brief guide to travel to the Imperial City.
