It is one of the most spectacular festivals in the city, and for centuries was considered its biggest festival. The first procession was held in Valencia in 1355, and in the estates society it had a special pedagogical value to narrate and inculcate the Christian mythical story, referring both to passages of the Old Testament and to characters more linked to local traditions.

Over time the General procession, as well as that of the Treat, were enriched with all kinds of symbols, elements and characters, among which the rocks, dances, hors d’oeuvres or mysteries stand out, and their artistic and citizen value meant that on some occasions the procession was organized on the occasion of visits by royals to the city. Over the centuries the festival went into decline, with the intensification of the processes of modernization and secularization of society. Only in the mid-seventies of the twentieth century did the first attempts to revitalize the processions appear, especially at the hands of some people especially zealous of popular traditions or through the creation of associations, such as the Association of Friends of Corpus Christi, created in 1977. The progressive citizen awareness of the heritage nature of the Corpus Christi festival led to it being declared an Asset of Cultural Interest by the Generalitat Valenciana in 2005.

The festival is celebrated rigorously 64 days after Easter. Two days beforehand, the popular rocks, or triumphal chariots, were transferred from the Casa de les Roques to Plaça de la Mare de Déu. Some rocks date back to the sixteenth century, and on top of these religious scenes used to be represented, such as hors d’oeuvres and mysteries. At night, the Valencia Municipal Band gives a concert in the square, before awarding prizes to the best balconies and adorned façades for the party, while from the Micalet the Guild of Bell Ringers provides the accompaniment with special ringing of bells.

On Sunday at noon, the Cavalcade of the Invitation takes place, led by the Chaplain of the Rocks, which includes Valencian folk dances such as the dance of La Moma and the mysteries, which are groups that interpret biblical scenes, thus creating the best prelude to what will be the evening procession. Also noteworthy are the children’s dances of shepherds, easels, bows or farmers, among others. Particularly striking is the troupe of devils known as the Degolla, which recalls very loosely the slaughter of innocents ordered by King Herod, putting the most carnival point of the procession.

In the early afternoon the rocks pass, and the horses that drag them star in the famous climb of the palace, at the end of its route, next to the Archbishop’s Palace. The itinerary of the general procession, which starts late at night, is characterized by a marked floral ornament, with thousands of petals falling from the balconies to the Paso del Santísimo, while the choirs sing their songs. Throughout the procession, guilds, regular communities, parishes, brotherhoods and various religious and secular entities parade, as well as the numerous biblical characters and symbols and mythological animals, which recall the belief of salvation through the Eucharist. The procession closes with the solemn passage of custody, accompanied by the main civil, military and ecclesiastical authorities, as well as the devout people.