Moors and Christians of Alcoy

Moors and Christians of Alcoy
Moors and Christians Esquadra
name	Moros y Cristianos of Alcoy
Also called	Moros i Cristians d'Alcoi
Main location	Alcoi, Spain
Begins	21 April; 19,30 p.m. (noon)
Ends	24 April; 12 a.m. (midnight)

The Moors and Christians of Alcoy, in Valencian Moros i Cristians d'Alcoi, in Spanish: Moros y Cristianos de Alcoy, are a popular festival which takes place in the city of Alcoy (Alicante), Valencian Community, Spain, including the representation of the fight between the two sides, Muslim and Christian.

The Moors and Christians Festival of Alcoy, in honor of Saint George was declared of International Tourist Interest in 1980, and is the origin for all the Moors and Christians festivals celebrated in the Valencian Community.

In 1276, different historical figures related to the various Muslim uprisings taking place in the region led to Saint George being recognized as the patron of Alcoy, who is attributed with the intervention in a battle to defend the population who were under attack by the Muslims. It was in this battle that the Muslim leader Al-Azraq is reputed to have been killed.

The Museu Alcoià de la Festa MAF (en: Museum of the Moors and Christians of Alcoy) in Alcoy, is a museum dedicated entirely to the festival of the Moros y cristianos of Alcoy, where the visitors can experience all the details, aspects and feelings surrounding this international festival.

The official Alcoy festival calendar states that the celebrations will take place on April 22, 23 and 24, but it is possible that these dates may be altered due to Easter week.