The February days around Las Candelas and San Blas give a stay in Mozárbez a specific cultural focus. The architecture of the Iglesia Parroquial de Santo Tomé, the surrounding hills and two route descriptions for the municipality round out the picture. When planning your trip, it is worth keeping these topics distinct: the festival days have fixed dates in February, while the routes can be understood by their respective courses.
Las Candelas and San Blas in February
Las Candelas takes place on February 2, the eve of the San Blas festival. The tradition includes a bonfire, tambourine music and sharing chorizo or sardines. The long-standing San Blas festival is celebrated every year on February 3. After Mass, San Blas is carried through the streets in a procession; afterwards, the traditional gargantillas are distributed. The two days fall close together but have different focuses: the bonfire and music are part of the eve, while Mass, the procession and gargantillas are part of the feast day. Entertainment and food details, as well as the precise sequence of ceremonies, may vary. If you are travelling specifically for the celebrations, check the exact dates and programme.
Churches and historical traces
The Iglesia Parroquial de Santo Tomé was built around the 18th century. Its forms are very simple; a characteristic feature is the combination of stone, brick and plaster. The façade combines rubble masonry and plaster with a distinctive entrance arch and a small, decorated bell gable. This draws attention not only to the approximate age of the building, but also to its restrained design and individual façade details.
The church is located almost on the north side of the so-called old town and, at the same time, close to the geographical centre of the settlement. Squares surround most of it. The two location descriptions refer to different scales: the north side describes its position within the old town, while the centre refers to the settlement as a whole.
Cerro de Utrera is classified as a Christian medieval military castle complex. Access to Cerro is via the Santuario de la Virgen de Utrera; check current access conditions before visiting.
Hills and pilgrim routes
The natural surroundings are characterised by hills, or elevations known as tesos; Teso de Utrera stands out among them. Ruins from earlier times can be seen on Modorro Hill. The two names therefore offer different points of reference: Teso de Utrera as a prominent elevation, and Modorro as a hill with visible ruins.
Two details about pilgrim routes should be distinguished. The third stage of the Vía de la Plata passes through Santo Tomé de Rozados, a hamlet in the municipality of Mozárbez. In addition, the Vía peregrina crosses the municipality from north to south. The first detail describes the course of a stage through a named hamlet; the second describes the north–south direction across the municipality. If a route is central to your travel plans, check current conditions.
Getting there by bus
There are stops in Mozárbez served by the Salamanca–Béjar–Salamanca bus line. Check the timetable separately before planning specific departures. This allows you to coordinate your journey with the festival days, a visit to cultural sites or plans for a pilgrim route.
Discover more destinations: Valdefuentes De Sangusin, Fuentes De Béjar, Yecla De Yeltes, Madroñal, La Rinconada De La Sierra, Villasrubias, Pinedas, Tenebrón.
For the broader travel overview: Salamanca.
