The Virgen de La Paloma festivities will be held from August 13 to 16 in the La Latina neighbourhood. Celtas Cortos and Miss Caffeina will headline the free concerts at Las Vistillas.
The La Latina neighbourhood is preparing to bid farewell to the summer with the Verbena de La Paloma, which this year will take place from August 13 to 16. This event, which concludes the cycle of popular festivities in the capital following San Cayetano and San Lorenzo, will transform the surroundings of Madrid de los Austrias into the epicentre of music, gastronomy, and tradition.
The highlight will come on Saturday, August 15, the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, with the mass and procession that annually gathers thousands of Madrileños. Before that, the firefighters of the Madrid City Council will lower the painting of the Virgen de la Paloma from the altar of the church on Calle de Toledo, a century-old gesture that opens the procession route.
The musical programme, as is customary, will be concentrated in the Jardines de Las Vistillas, where Celtas Cortos and Miss Caffeina will perform live. Both groups lead a lineup of free concerts that will be complemented by evening verbenas and popular dances.
The festivities, organised by the Madrid City Council in collaboration with local community organisations in the Centro district, maintain their commitment to intergenerational coexistence. Children's shows and family activities will have their own space, while food and drink stalls will offer the most typical of Madrid's gastronomy.
The procession, which departs from the church of the Virgen de la Paloma, winds through the streets of La Latina and Madrid de los Austrias until it reaches Plaza de la Paja. It is the most emotional moment of a celebration that, beyond its festive character, retains a deep religious and community root.
The devotion to the Virgen de la Paloma dates back to the late 18th century when a local resident, Isabel Tintero, found an abandoned canvas depicting the Virgin of Solitude. She placed it at the entrance of her home on Calle de la Paloma, and the growing popular devotion led to the establishment of a chapel and, later, the current church.
For those coming from other parts of the city, it is recommended to use public transport, as traffic restrictions will be in place on several streets in the Centro district during the four days of festivities. The nearest Metro stations are La Latina (L5) and Tirso de Molina (L1), both just a few minutes' walk from the main venues.
The complete programme, with schedules and activities, can be consulted on the Madrid City Council website and on the official social media profiles of the festivities. Entry to all concerts and events is free until capacity is reached.
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