More than 1,400 sheep and goats take over Madrid's streets for the 33rd Transhumance Festival
More than 1,400 sheep and goats took over the streets of the Spanish capital Madrid on Sunday. The flock crossed the city's historic centre for the 33rd annual Transhumance Festival, while residents and tourists lined the streets to watch and take photographs.
The flock consisted of 1,250 sheep and 160 goats. It set off from Casa de Campo, crossed the Puente del Rey bridge and made its way through the historic centre. With bells chiming and animals bleating, streets and squares normally dominated by traffic filled with the procession.
Several shepherds wore traditional dress, while others carried young lambs or offered treats to their animals. Folk musicians added to the festive atmosphere.
The event marks transhumance, the centuries-old practice of moving livestock between summer and winter pastures along drovers' routes known as vías pecuarias. At Plaza de la Villa, officials staged the traditional payment of 50 maravedís per thousand animals, a symbolic ceremony dating from 1418.
This year's route was altered to avoid Puerta del Sol, where housing campaigners have set up a protest camp following the eviction and subsequent death of an 87-year-old local resident.
Beyond celebrating rural heritage, the festival highlights the environmental value of traditional grazing: by consuming vegetation, the animals help reduce flammable undergrowth and lower wildfire risks.
