Event Details
What Is Cascamorras? The Paint Battle Between Guadix and Baza
The Cascamorras is one of the most original folk festivals in Andalusia; every year in early September, the streets of the Granada towns of Baza and Guadix turn into a battlefield of black and ochre paint. At its heart is a centuries old rivalry over a statue of the Virgen de la Piedad and a messenger named Cascamorras, who tries to complete his journey unstained; something he has failed to do for more than 500 years. The festival has been recognised as a Fiesta of International Tourist Interest since 2013, and Guadix and Baza are jointly pursuing a candidacy for the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
When Is Cascamorras 2026? Dates in Baza and Guadix
Cascamorras leaves Guadix during the night of 5 to 6 September and arrives in Baza around 6:00 PM on 6 September, where residents greet him with black paint. This also marks the start of the Feria y Fiestas en honor a la Virgen de la Piedad in Baza, which runs until 15 September. On 9 September, also around 6:00 PM, Cascamorras makes his return to Guadix, where the ritual is repeated with ochre paint. Between the two main dates, both towns hold numerous side events, processions and celebrations.
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How Does Cascamorras Work? Route and Sequence of Events
Cascamorras wears a colourful harlequin style costume decorated with suns, stars and moons and covers the roughly forty kilometre route between Guadix and Baza. His task is to bring the statue of the Virgen de la Piedad back to Guadix without being stained by the residents of Baza; if he fails, the statue stays in Baza. In over five hundred years of tradition, he has never once succeeded. On his arrival back in Guadix on 9 September, Cascamorras is covered in paint again, this time by his own townspeople, as a symbolic expression of disappointment over the failed mission.
Why Do Guadix and Baza Fight Over the Virgin? Origins of the Tradition
The legend dates back to 1490: a construction worker from Guadix named Juan Pedernal discovered a hidden statue of the Virgin while working in Baza, a statue that had been concealed there since the Almohads destroyed a chapel in 1151. He tried to bring the statue back to Guadix, but the people of Baza stopped him by force. The authorities of the time ruled that the statue would remain in Baza, while Guadix would retain the right to try to reclaim it every year; this ruling gave rise to the ritual still celebrated today.
Is Cascamorras Free? Participation and Practical Information
Cascamorras is a public street celebration with no admission fee; anyone can join in and take part in the paint battle. Those who want to participate actively should wear old clothes, since the paint (usually water soluble) is very hard to remove from fabric. Spectators who prefer to stay clean should keep some distance from the main squares where the action takes place.
Visitor Tips for Guadix and Baza
- Wear old, dark clothing or plan for disposable clothing if you want to join the paint battle.
- Protect or leave behind valuables and electronic devices before the paint battle starts.
- Arrive early, as both town centres get very crowded on these two days.
- The two towns are about forty kilometres apart and are well connected by car or bus.
- Public showers and changing facilities are usually available in both towns after the celebration.
