HOLY TUESDAY

XL MAJOR TUESDAY

Monday, August 10

10:30 p.m. Opening speech by Ángel Centeno.
Tribute to the Álvarez Vicente family of Mercería y Lanas Aurora.
Recognition of Mirobriga’s local businesses (40th anniversary of Martes Mayor and 10th anniversary of Martes Chico).
Performance by Rondalla III Columnas. Location: Plaza del Buen Alcalde.

Tuesday, August 11

10:00 a.m. Street vendors. Location: Historic downtown shopping district.
Stands dedicated to the “Rincón de Portugal.”
Stands from the Provincial Council of Salamanca.
Show cooking with tastings of products from the province presented by “Salamanca en Bandeja.”
10:30 a.m. Visit by the City Council.
10:30 p.m. SMS Orchestra. Location: Plaza Mayor.

Since 1986, on the second Tuesday of August, the historic center of Ciudad Rodrigo has been filled with a multitude of stalls selling a variety of products—an event known as “Martes Mayor”—filling the streets of Ciudad Rodrigo with joy and color. On this day, in the morning, the Plaza Mayor and its surroundings are transformed into something resembling a medieval market, where local businesses set up to display typical regional products and handicrafts, and offer samples of traditional cuisine.

Ciudad Rodrigo’s restaurants and local businesses take to the streets to showcase everything from traditional local products to souvenirs for tourists, as well as offering the chance to sample the region’s cuisine.

The market celebration has also been a tradition in Ciudad Rodrigo every Tuesday of the year, and on this second Tuesday in August, we remember and commemorate that in 1475, the Catholic Monarchs granted the city—as compensation for the constant sieges resulting from its border location with Portugal—the privilege of holding a “free market” every Tuesday, that is, tax-free, to attract merchants and make it easier for the residents of Ciudad Rodrigo to purchase all kinds of products.