The brotherhood of El Rocío de Triana began its traditional pilgrimage to the Almonte village on Wednesday, marking the start of one of Seville's most emblematic romerías. Hundreds of faithful accompanied the Virgin from the Chapel of the Mariners in the Triana neighborhood, on a day where the festive atmosphere and solemnity combined with the colorful flamenco dresses and adorned horses, with no notable incidents and favorable weather.
Logistical and technological development in the romería 📡
This year, the pilgrimage incorporates a GPS geolocation system on the simpecado carts, allowing devotees to follow the route in real time from their mobile devices. Additionally, a network of solar charging points for electronic devices has been implemented in rest areas, and surveillance drones monitor traffic on the paths to prevent congestion. These tools facilitate coordination among the brotherhoods and improve the safety of attendees.
The Rocío app: to pray or to ask for the wifi 📱
Technology advances, but the brotherhood members still have clear priorities. While some consult the official app to know when the Virgin arrives at the village, others use it to locate the nearest bar with coverage. Of course, faith moves mountains, but a good octopus a la gallega moves the devotee to ask the drone operator: do you have data to share?