Huelva fell silent on Thursday evening as King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia arrived to lead a city in mourning.
The monarchs landed just after 6pm and were escorted to the Carolina Marin sports arena, where hundreds of families and thousands of residents were already waiting.
They were greeted by the Bishop of Huelva, Santiago Gomez Sierra, before walking through the venue, stopping to speak to members of the public and acknowledge the many faces marked by grief. The tone was solemn from the outset.
Inside, the families of the 28 victims from Huelva occupied the most prominent seats. A total of 336 relatives were present, with children seated at the front, reports Malaga Hoy.
Among them were the grandchildren of Natividad, the well-known local grandmother who lost her life on the Alvia tracks.
The King and Queen sat close by, offering quiet gestures of comfort and support.
The scale of the turnout underlined the depth of feeling across the city. Although access to the arena was scheduled for 4pm, crowds began gathering hours earlier.
By mid-afternoon, queues stretched around the venue. Entry was carefully controlled, and by 5.30pm every seat was taken. Doors were then closed in line with security protocols.
The transformed arena became a place of reflection, centred around the image of the Virgin of the Cinta and a crucifix with deep historical significance for the city, once venerated by Pope John Paul II during his 1993 visit.
Church officials reported that 4,350 people attended the mass, which was led jointly by senior figures of the Spanish Church.
The ceremony also drew a strong political presence, with representatives from all levels of government in attendance.
Senior ministers, regional leaders, opposition figures and local authorities sat side by side, alongside the mayor of Adamuz, the town at the heart of the tragedy.
The event attracted extensive media coverage, with more than a 100 national and international outlets present.
To make the tribute accessible to all, the city council implemented an extensive transport operation.
From mid-afternoon onwards, free shuttle buses ran continuously between the main station and neighbourhoods across Huelva, ensuring residents could attend regardless of where they lived.
