La Venia

La Venia, also known as the Procession of El Encuentro, brings Luanco’s Holy Week to a close with a reenactment of the encounter between the Virgin of the Rosary and the Risen Christ on La Ribera Beach.

The Virgin of the Rosary has remained in the Chapel of the Conception since Good Friday, after being carried there during the Los Callandinos procession. On Easter Sunday, both statues move slowly across the sand until they meet, at which point the celebration’s most distinctive ritual takes place.

During the ceremony, the standard-bearer of the Fishermen’s Brotherhood genuflects three times before the image of the Risen Jesus while waving the red standard over the sand without actually touching it. At the same time, the black mantle is removed from the Virgin of the Rosary, who appears dressed in white to meet her Risen Son.

The festival, which has been documented since at least the 18th century, is one of the most unique and well-attended religious events in Asturias, closely linked to the seafaring tradition and the history of Luanco.

The Callandinos

In addition to La Venia, the Los Callandinos procession is held during Holy Week, in which the Virgin of the Rosary, dressed in mourning, is carried from the parish church to the Chapel of the Conception. Processions are also held in various parts of the municipality.