The cultural festival surrounding this liturgical occasion, held between 1 and 5 May of each year, has been declared of International Tourist Interest in 2004.

Along with processions and parades of Moors and Christians, the celebration of Horses of Wine is especially relevant, which now aspires to be listed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

The hills which extend to the north are rich in marble and iron, while the town itself has been a considerable industrial centre, with large iron-works, tanneries and paper, chocolate and oil factories.

This triggered conflicts with the locals lasting almost 800 years, ending with Christian kingdoms successfully retaking the entire Peninsula in the 15th century.

During the middle of that period, in the year 1231 (or 1232 by some accounts), a miracle occurred in the southeastern Spanish town of Caravaca de la Cruz, which was still under the control of Zeyt-Abuzeyt.

Being several generations away from the initial invaders, Zeyt-Abuzeyt was from a line of well-established Moorish kings and one of his duties was to protect the region from invasion by Christians.

The priest continued the Mass, where according to Catholic theology, the bread and wine become the True Body and Blood of Jesus Christ (as per the doctrine of transubstantiation), even while retaining their original sensory qualities.

Centuries later, after Christopher Columbus set sail on his voyage of discovery (1492) Franciscan friars travelled to the Americas, taking copies of the Caravaca Cross with them.

The May celebrations honouring the Holy Cross combine culture, religion, history, and entertainment in which all citizens and visitors participate.

The horses came roaring burst and annually in the spring of Caravaca, on 2 May, opening wide the gates of the festival every year is dedicated to the Blessed.

Today, an annual fiesta is held in the town to remember those events, which includes a ceremony to bless the irrigation water used by Caravaca farmers.

Before offering and sprucing women to young men and horses richly embroidered robes and bouquets of flowers, considering, in this way, heroes and saviors of the situation.

However, it is in the 18th century, in full Baroque, when the festival begins to appear as such, and during the Romantic Decimónico playful when it reaches the structure it has today.

The Celebration takes place during the morning of each Dos de Mayo, the eve of the Feast of the Cross, when Caravaca becomes the capital of joy, beauty and festive participation.

In 2006, after being closed several months, completed the last renovation of the building, reopening to the public in April of that year with the play El hombre de Central Park, by Carlos Larrañaga.

One of the most established cultural events is the Theatre Week Caravaca de la Cruz, who in 2010 reached its thirtieth edition.

'Las Fuentes del Marques' is a place of natural beauty[citation needed] whose role lies in the numerous births of crystalline waters that form a unique setting.

[tone] This space is located the Tower of the Templars, a small castle in the Middle Ages constituted a defense outpost of Caravaca de la Cruz.

It has been installed interpretation center of nature showing the species of birds, fish and small mammals that inhabit the place.