Santuario de la Virgen de la Cabeza

Andújar April 18, 2016

The shrine keeps the image of the patron saint of Jaen’s Diocesis and the City of Andujar. It is located at the heart of Sierra de Andujar’s Natural Park, on top of the commonly known as “Cerro del Cabezo”.
It was built between 1287 and 1304, but it has suffered multiple refurbishments since then - the most important during the 16th century - and almost a full reconstruction after the civil war.
It has been guarded and opened to worship since 1930 by the Trinitarian Order. It is specially decorated to its best during the last weekend of April to celebrate one of the most important pilgrimages in Spain.
In 1936 a group of 200 rebel guardias civiles sheltered in the shrine, resisting inside a 9 months siege by the republican army. This event, that was taken to the cinema, ended up with the destruction of the Shrine.

More about this place…

Virgen de la Cabeza’s Shrine during the last week of April is the destination of thousands of pilgrims in one of the oldest pilgrimages in Spain. The last Sunday of April the procession of the Virgen de la Cabeza - known as “Morenita”- is celebrated here since 1505, being this shrine the centre of the event. Cofraidias (religious brotherhoods) from all over the country, decorated with flags and coats of arms all the path from Andujar till the Shrine, where they go to honour the image of the Virgin.