Carrascal del Río prepares for San Frutos pilgrimage

The town of Carrascal del Río in Segovia is preparing to host approximately 5,000 people for the annual pilgrimage of San Frutos on October 25. This significant influx poses an organizational challenge for the municipality, which has a registered population of only 154 residents.

The celebration, which falls on a Sunday this year, combines religious devotion, local customs, and the natural landscape of the Hoces del Duratón. The festivities honor San Frutos, a 7th-century hermit who lived in the area. Local tradition highlights several miracles attributed to the saint, including the legend of the ‘cuchillada de San Frutos,’ where a crack in the rock supposedly blocked advancing troops.

Mayor Gabriel Pérez noted that the Sunday timing is expected to increase attendance, as the last time the event fell on a Sunday was eleven years ago. The event serves as a religious, cultural, and social cornerstone for the community, drawing pilgrims to the local hermitage and the surrounding natural park.