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Shrine of la Virgen de la Esperanza

Calasparra, Noroeste, Murcia

1 Villages · 6 Monuments · 5 Nature · 2 Activities · 1 Curiosities · 2 Historical milestones · 1 Food and drink

Spain › Region of Murcia › Noroeste › Calasparra › Shrine of la Virgen de la Esperanza

Shrine of la Virgen de la Esperanza

Monument · Calasparra, Noroeste, Murcia

The santuario de la Virgen de la Esperanza stands 6 kilometres from Calasparra, in a grotto carved into the rock facing the río Segura, and houses the two images of the town's patron saint: la Pequeñica, from the 16th century, and la Mayor or Grande, from the 17th. Tradition has it that a shepherd found la Pequeñica in the cave and that, as it proved impossible to move her to the village, it was decided to venerate her right there; the earliest records of the sanctuary date from the 17th century and in 1746 the Virgin was declared patron saint of the town. The current architecture, of mountain stone and neo-Gothic style, was built between 1948 and 1968. It offers views over the rice fields from the nearby Mirador de las Lomas, declared in 1999 a Lugar de Interés Geológico together with the river terrace.

Photo: Anidae (CC BY 4.0)

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