Official Portal of Tourism. Junta de Castilla y Leon

The entire series of processions and liturgical events that accompany Holy Week have their culmination and culmination in an almost unique tradition: the Bajada del Ángel. This symbolic representation of the Resurrection of Christ has only two parallels in all of Spain, in Aranda de Duero and in Tudela de Navarra. There is documentary evidence of the act from the 18th century, but it is surely older and dates back, like other religious representations, to the impulse after the Council of Trent.

In this event, an image of the Virgin, covered in a black veil, in mourning, and accompanied by the sad music of the Municipal Band, leaves in a procession from the church of Santa María towards the medieval Plaza del Coso. There it is placed on a pedestal that is located between two tall towers with a wooden frame covered with red damask. At a certain moment, when the Virgin is already seated, a large white fabric balloon emerges from the top of one of the two towers, which has always been moved by a set of ropes that join the towers at their highest part. . The balloon stops in the middle of the space between the two towers, at the top, and opens, revealing inside a child dressed in the innocent whiteness of angels and adorned with a golden crown and two wings. Thanks to a system of pulleys, the angel descends hanging, releases two doves and comes into contact with the Virgin who is below him. Then he removes the black veil from the mourning mother of Christ and is elevated again, kicking and moving the veil frantically. The crowd breaks into applause and the Municipal Band plays the national anthem. The Resurrection of the Savior has been represented.

This beautiful spectacle was previously celebrated in each of the last three historic parishes of Peñafiel: San Miguel, Santa María and San Salvador. The boy "flew" from a single tower to the church in the plaza surrounding each church. After the disappearance of San Salvador, it was decided to move the event to the aforementioned Plaza del Coso, where the solemnity and emotion of the event can be seen by many more people.