Virgen del Carmen Festivities (seafaring fiestas)

The Virgen del Carmen, patron of sailors and fishermen, is deeply rooted all along Lanzarote's coast. Her central act is the maritime procession: the image is taken aboard and carried along the shore escorted by decorated boats, with flowers cast into the sea in memory of those lost, rounded off with a land procession, religious services, verbenas and sporting events. Seafaring neighbourhoods and villages such as Valterra (Arrecife), La Tiñosa (Puerto del Carmen), Playa Blanca, La Graciosa, Órzola and Arrieta each celebrate on a different weekend.