The Virgin of Carmen in Banús

The Virgin of Carmen, the patron saint of sailors and of Marbella, was submerged yesterday in front of Puerto Banús, one of the most exclusive marinas in southern Europe. Divers placed the image of the Virgin in the depths of the harbor waters, in an event that combined devotion and tradition. At the moment the image of the Lady was submerged, the crowd present at the time in the area, mostly tourists taking advantage of the last weeks of the summer period in Marbella, burst into applause of respect and recognition. The patron saint of sailors has a chapel, visited daily by numerous devotees and tourists, within the port facilities, located a short distance from the Control Tower of Puerto Banús and on the noble dock of the marina. Puerto Banús welcomes into its waters every July 16th, the feast day of the Virgin of Carmen, the procession that, with the image of the Saint, starts from La Bajadilla port, in the urban center of Marbella. The parade sails to the facilities of Banús, where hundreds of devotees gather to welcome the image with floral offerings as a sign of respect and in remembrance of the sailors lost at sea. After the tribute in Puerto Banús, the maritime procession returns to the fishing and recreational port La Bajadilla. The Virgin of Carmen, along with San Bernabé and San Pedro de Alcántara, are the three patrons of Marbella and San Pedro.