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El
Rocio
is to
be
found
on the
edge
of the
Doñana
National
Park
and is
normally
a
quiet
town
with
some
bars
and
restaurants.
At the
feast
of
Pentecost
however,
the
town
comes
alive
with
the
arrival
of the
famous
Romeria,
a
religious
festival
in
which
millions
of
pilgrims
gather
to
sing
the
praises
of the
Virgin,
more
popularly
known
as the
Blanca
Paloma
or
White
Dove
who
appeared
in the
13th
century
and
has
become
one of
the
most
important
objects
of
devotion
in the
whole
of
Andalucia.
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The
town
consists
of
streets
of
sand
in a
grid-based
urban
layout
with
one or
two
storey
houses
and
rows
and
rows of
churches
and
chapels.
Pictured
above
and
left
is the
Santuario
of
Nuestra
Señora
de el
Rocio,
the
biggest
construction
in the
town. |
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The
lake
in El
Rocio
is
home
to
flamingos
and
other
birds.
The
lake
is
encompassed
by a
pleasant
walkway
with
seating. |
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Left
is the
interior
of the
Santuario.
A huge
gilded
altar
dominates
the
building. |
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Pictured
right
is
just
one
row of
churches
that
form a
square
around
a
green
area.
If you
wish
to
stay
in the
area,
there
is a
wonderful
hotel
just a
few
kilometres
along
the
main
highway.
El
Cortijo
de Los
Mimbrales
is
quite
an
experience. |
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