Motril
is closed today 13th January.
Every year the town remembers a series of
earth tremors that caused serious damage in the municipality.
Because
of the earthquakes of 1804 and 1884 that destroyed the town, Motril annually celebrates a great procession
of the city's patron, the Virgen de la
Cabeza and Nuestro Padre Jesús
Nazareno.
The
people of Motril prayed to these Saints, during that tragic time, for the end
of the earthquakes and for calm and now thank them for their intercession.
The first quake measured 6.7 on the Richter scale and the second, 6.5.
“Only a religious procession keeps the date alive now, but there are
accounts of how hundreds of Motrileneans
were affected by serious tremors in 1804 and 1884. Although only 2 people died
in the first quake, with the town faithfully fortified, it was the1884 earthquake,
which took the greatest toll in Motríl with over 830 people dying on Christmas day.
It was the last two earthquakes recorded in Motríl in1993 and
1994, which also happened around the Christmas period, which inspired locals
to initiate this day of commemoration on January 13, in the hope that the disaster
should never recur.” 
Video ....... Virgin de la Cabeza - Patrona de Motril
