Santuario de la Fuensanta

Published on 13/10/2015

Villanueva del Arzobispo (Las Villas)

Monuments, Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park

The Sanctuary is held inside an old medieval fortress from the 13th till 14th centuries, from which two towers are still preserved in the present structure.
Placed in ancient border lands -and also political instability- this sancturay is considered one of the oldest in the country, as it was a popular pilgrimage place in 1291.
It is made by 3 naves, the central one is the biggest. It was built in Gothic style, although it preserves some Romantic details.
Various religious orders occupied the temple throughout history: Carmelites, Basilians and Trinitarians since 1884.
It is the worship temple for Virgen de la Fuensanta, patron saint of the Four Villas: Villanueva del Arzobispo, Villacarrillo, Iznatoraf and Sorihuela del Guadalimar. On the 8th September she is taken out in romeria (a pilgrimage festivity).

More about this place…

In the year 1396 Villanueva del Arzobispo splitted from Iznatoraf, becoming a complete independent Villa. La Moraleja - its previous name - held the Virgen de la Fuensanta’s Sanctuary, well known at the time as a pilgrimage place. The temple, built on site of a previous castle of which two towers remains, has been managed by different religious orders but the Trinitarians are the current residents. There is a very popular legend about the wife of Iznatoraf’s Arabic king.