Every October, Calp’s Plaza Mayor is transformed into the setting for El Miracle, the most anticipated and emotional event of the Moors and Christians festivities. Residents and visitors gather in silence to relive a story that feels ever-present, marked by shouts, gunpowder, and a collective emotion that turns the entire town into the protagonist of its own memory.
The performance is based on a documented historical event: on October 22, 1744, seven Barbary galleys attacked the coast with the intention of looting the town. Tradition tells that Moncófar facilitated the invaders’ entry through the Portalet, but the young Caragol managed to close it and save Calp, a gesture that the residents attributed to the intercession of the Santísimo Cristo de la Suor, turning that episode into legend, devotion, and a symbol of identity.
In 1976, the story moved from oral tradition to popular theater with the creation of the Moors and Christians association, and since then, El Miracle has been performed every year as the spiritual heart of the festival. Its uniqueness lies in its historical realism, its distinct characters, and the participation of the entire community, creating a legacy passed down through generations. Thus, more than just remembering the past, El Miracle keeps the unity and identity of Calpe alive, renewing a collective “miracle” every year.
https://www.europapress.es/comunitat-valenciana/noticia-miracle-calp-cuando-pueblo-une-torno-historia-20251112100316.html