1,410 sheep and goats took over Madrid's streets — and the city loved it

Traffic stopped, bells chimed, and central Madrid belonged to the flock. For the 33rd Transhumance Festival, 1,250 sheep and 160 goats set off from Casa de Campo and processed through the historic centre, past crowds of residents and tourists, shepherds in traditional dress carrying lambs, and folk musicians playing them along. The festival celebrates transhumance, the centuries-old seasonal movement of livestock between pastures along ancient drovers' routes. At Plaza de la Villa, shepherds paid the traditional symbolic fee of 50 maravedis per thousand animals — a ceremony dating from 1418. The grazing itself does quiet good, too: flocks clear flammable undergrowth, lowering wildfire risk. For one Sunday, the fastest city slowed to walking pace — woolly, bleating walking pace.