Antas, Spain

The mountains of the Filabres roll down in undulating slopes at their north eastern end and here, on a fertile plain, lies Antas.

All around Antas there are numerous large orange and lemon groves, and other fruits and vegetables are grown on this highly cultivated area.

The Hermitage of the “Virgin of the Cabeza” is dedicated to the Patron Saint of Antas and lies outside the town on the top of a hill.

The main celebration of the locality is the fiesta of the Virgin of the same name and on 8 September every year her image is taken from the church to the Hermitage where she is offered floral tributes after the pilgrimage.

In the middle of Lent, the people of Antas also celebrate spring with the pagan ritual of “killing the old women”, they gather on the nearby hillside called the Ridge of María and animated by the town band, proceed to throw sweets at the local grandmothers.