On July 16 the men of the sea will celebrate their patron saint's festivity,
the Verge del Carme (Our Lady of Mount Carmel), and organise maritime processions
and other festive and religious ceremonies in the main ports of the Island.
In the port of Maó, the fiesta will be held this Saturday 13
and the events will start and arrive at the Naval Base that will open to
the public as from 5 p.m. The programme, organised by the Armada
(Navy) with the collaboration of a large number of local institutions and
entities, will start at 7 p.m. with the Mass in the Base Chapel, held by
the Bishop of Menorca. The procession, with participation by the fishermen
and all the private boats who wish, led by the patrol boat Anaga, that
will carry the statue of the Virgin, will start at 8 p.m. leaving the military
quays. After a long procession round the port, it will return to the Naval
Station, where a grand popular dance with two orchestras will be held until
3 a.m.
In Fornells the events for the Verge del Carme are organised by the
Fishermen's Guild and will start on Monday 15, with a night of Havana songs
by the sea. On Tuesday, at 7.30 p.m. the mass will be followed by
the sea procession.
In Ciutadella, the Fiesta de la Verge del Carme will be held the following
weekend. On Saturday July 20, there will be a Havana Concert in the Port
by the group Sa Rosa des Vents. The procession is programmed for
Sunday 21, leaving on foot from the church of Sant Miquel at 7.30 p.m.
reaching the Port, when the procession will embark until the entrance to
the Port accompanied by private boats.
Photos © BalearWeb:
1. Base Naval de Maó
2. Fornells
3. Ciutadella