The 9 best cavalcades of Kings of Spain

The most popular and expected tradition by all the children of our country is the one that welcomes their Majesties from the East at nightfall on January 5 of each year. Inventiveness and innovation come together with the more traditional versions offering authentic shows for the enjoyment of young and old.

We tell you where you can enjoy the 9 best cavalcades of the Kings of Spain that fill the night with magic.

The best cavalcades of Kings of Spain

The same tradition with the nuances of each place marking its difference.

1. Madrid

To talk about the best cavalcades of the Kings of Spain, we had to start with that of our capital, and more specifically with the one that runs through the downtown area of ​​the city, one of the most spectacular in our country due to the media deployment that it boasts year after year.

On a tour that begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Plaza de San Juan de la Cruz, it runs along the Paseo de la Castellana until it ends in Cibeles at 9:00 p.m., where the parade ends with a spectacular pyrotechnic to start the most magical night of the year.

2. Alcoy

We could not fail to mention among the best cavalcades of the Kings of Spain the one that is the oldest of them all: Alcoy, declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest.

Their majesties travel this Alicante town on camels' backs, crossing the path traced at night by the torches that illuminate its streets, while a procession of pages loaded with long stairs go up to the balconies to leave the presents to the children who have behaved well.

3. grenade

There are customs so ingrained over so many years that they become part of the culture of the place. This is the case of the city of Granada, which, continuing in order of antiquity of its tradition, is the second of the best cavalcades of the Kings of Spain.

During the five hours that the most anticipated celebration for Granada children lasts, the streets of the beautiful city they are impregnated with color, light and music to receive the three Magi from the East, in the middle of an atmosphere that gives off joy and magic and where its 22 wonderful floats will distribute illusion and sweets equally among the attendees.

4. Barcelona

One of the most emblematic ports of our country receives the punctual visit each year of the Magi, who make a spectacular disembarkation with which the traditional parade that will start from the Moll de la Fusta until hours later the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc, where the parade will be closed by the acclaimed color light show, water and music with which the tour of the great entourage ends.

The creativity and innovative capacity of the city of Barcelona are evident with each of the themes recreated during the parade, where there is no neither the acrobatics, nor the visual and sound appeal, nor the originality of the staging that characterizes one of the best parades of the Kings of Spain.

They even have the traditional collection of pacifiers from the little ones in exchange for a candy with which they reward their desire to become big children.

5. Santillana del Mar

The Cantabrian town of Santillana del Mar, with the charm of its stone streets, becomes during the Twelfth Night one of the most beautiful settings where not only the traditional arrival of their Majesties from the East is expected, but the Auto Sacramental is also represented in a unique way in our country.

For about three hours each and every moment of the birth of Jesus is staged, as well as the stages of the arrival of the Kings until the final moment of adoration. A whole journey through time where the audience ceases to be mere spectators to become one more of the characters.

6. Saint Sebastian

Whoever contemplates the beach of La Concha, in San Sebastián, is so amazed that anything can be possible, even the fact of seeing it appear on its sand three camels on whose backs the three Magi from the East ride.

In this curious and emblematic way, one of the best cavalcades of the Kings of Spain begins, where the surprises do not end with such a peculiar appearance, because they will continue the tour through the streets of the Basque city in an old convertible, from which they will greet all who come out to welcome them and will be followed by their entourage and a group of musicians who will accompany them from a tourist bus, enlivening the tour with music and show.

7. Elche

Different details make the difference of this parade full of charm compared to others on the national scene. And it is that being able to see each of the three Wise Men appear from different parts of the city to reach the meeting point from which they will advance together until they reach their destination, preceded by all a retinue of torches illuminating the darkness that will show you the way… priceless.

8. Seville

This year the Ateneo de Sevilla, founder of one of the best cavalcades of Kings of Spain, will celebrate the First Centenary of this emblematic parade that will meander through the streets during the afternoon of January 5 from the Andalusian capital.

There, thousands of children will take the opportunity to deliver their letters personally to their Majesties of the East, while a retinue of cornets and percussion liven up the journey with their music.

9. Girona

And the last of our selection of the best cavalcades of Kings of Spain, but not for that reason behind the others, is the one that takes place in the streets of the city of Girona.

Since it is the most awaited night for the little ones, the deserved prominence is entirely given to them. From four in the afternoon, the Magi from the East receive the children to attend to their requests and, after a meeting between the members of the entourage at Pont de Pedra from different parts of the city, the parade begins that will cross the streets full of people.

But one of the most special moments of this beautiful celebration takes place when at sunset, the children of Girona light the calls fanalets (home-made lanterns) with which they trace the path that will guide their Majesties through the night.