On the Saturday closest to San Antonio’s Day (17 January), Villores celebrates the traditional Santantonà, a festival that is both secular and religious, and full of medieval folklore. The festival commences with the blessing of animals, then liquor and coquetes, a type of pastry are distributed. Next is San Antonio’s journey, the Filandrona (a man dressed as a woman) and Las Botargas (a Pagan tradition involving people in bizarre costumes). The festival ends with the lighting of a monumental bonfire. Known as the barraca, the bonfire is built and burnt on the same Saturday using firewood chopped a few days beforehand. What makes Villores’ Santantonà unique is the charm of its residents, who open the doors of their houses to offer sweets, dried fruits and local wine to everyone.
