More than 2,000 sheep and 100 goats paraded through central Madrid on Sunday as part of the annual Fiesta de la Trashumancia, a festival celebrating the city's rural heritage. The event, which began in 1994, follows a medieval route used by shepherds migrating south for the winter.
The festival honours a 1418 agreement that allows shepherds to drive their livestock through the city in exchange for a nominal fee. A ceremony at city hall saw the mayor and chief herdsman exchange the payment, originally set at 50 maravedís per thousand animals.
Many participants wore traditional clothing, including clogs, and the sheep were adorned with bells, creating a noisy spectacle. One tourist told Reuters: "We just arrived yesterday and they told us it's going on today. Once a year and we are here."
The procession began at 10:30 local time in Casa de Campo park and concluded by 14:00 after passing through the city centre, which was unusually free of traffic for the occasion.
