Craft keeps being the way of earning a living for some inhabitants of Caravaca de la Cruz.

During the last decades craft activities have suffered relevant changes motivated by new life habits and constant pressure of the industrial activities, increasingly more present in our life. However, we have to appreciate the great effort and dedication our artisans keep doing to maintain and improve the products and way of working that are rooted in our tradition. This way of understanding life resists making room for the maelstrom of the contemporary world.

The Association of Artisans and Producers La Corredera given the changes suffered by this sector and to answer inquiries and problems.

Our Town Hall promotes three events that offer a sample of this artisan work to visitors:

• The Pilgrim’s Market – Mercado del Peregrino.
• The Rural Traditions Market- Mercado de Tradiciones Campesinas.
• The Medieval Market- Mercado Medieval.

Walking down the street can lead to a pleasant surprise if you visit a small nice museum where an exceptional artistic and artisanal collection is exhibited. This collection gathers 400 exclusive miniatures made out of iron and wood by master craftsman Angel Reinon.

In working days you can also find several workshops and workrooms where groceries, decoration and gifts acquire the value and charm of work well done and own identity. Since this city has always been linked to the Cross, it should be emphasized that one of the main and oldest artisan works in Caravaca is to produce copies of the True Cross- from the simplest silver pieces to the golden high-quality and artistic crosses.

Workshops and bakery

Among the established activities of this sector in the city, we can find the production of nougats and typical sweets as alfajor and yemas, delicatessen and pork butcher’s meat, bakery, apiculture and its derivates; design and interior decoration, costume jewelry manufacture and metal works especially for the festivities costumes, forging and locksmithing, fantastic artistic embroidery, natural essences manufacturing, glassware, carpentry, etc.

Markets

The Market of the Pilgrim

It takes place in the walk “La Corredera”, from 10h to 14:30h, on the third Sunday from October to April and on afternoons of the third Saturday of May and June (17h -21h). Here it is possible to have a pleasant meeting with local and regional artisans who offer the best of their products to enjoy in a good meal, for a gift or to decorate.

Each market is dedicated to a particular activity – circus day, Christmas market, etc. In addition, participatory artisan workshops to show this work to people take place in these markets, where gastronomic tasting (tapa and beer 2€) can be enjoyed and several groups of entertainment perform for children and adults. Music is always present in these markets like in the many interesting live performances during this event.

The decoration, gift and food stand – honey, bread, sweets, cheese, cold meat, nougat, leather, wood, costume jewelry, etc.-, put together a wonderful offer that make almost impossible to leave with empty hands.

The Market of Rural Traditions

It is celebrated last weekend of January together with the “Fiestas de las Cuadrillas”, declared Interest of National Tourist in one of our villages, Barranda, 12 kms away from the old part of the town in Caravaca de la Cruz.

Artisans show their appropriate decoration and several entertainment activities. There is a special emphasis on rural products, customs, traditions, etc. that still persist in the whole city of Caravaca de la Cruz and its 14 villages.

 

The Medieval Market

It is located in the historic artistic centre of the town- in the Plaza del Arco, Plaza Nueva, Calle de las Monjas, Calle Mayor and close streets.

It is celebrated for several days in early December during the national bank holidays of “La Constitucion”.

Here real craft takes place in our city, gathering artisans of all the country with their best products and several activities are organised around it for visitants to enjoy- artisan demonstration, games, street entertainment and performances for children and adults.

During these days, Caravaca de la Cruz is taken to another time to the medieval era that is so rooted in its history as the Basilica-Sanctuary and the True Cross are. The atmosphere in streets and squares, the costumes of artisans and participants, thousands of aromas, delicious meals served with traditional drinks, characters seething the streets, the offered performances, music... A onetime experience that brings medieval times back to our city!

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