ARCHIVED - Saturday December 7th; Guided tour of the Virgen de las Huertas convent in Lorca
ARCHIVED ARTICLE
The church contains spectacular murals and the remains of a 10th-century Moorish palace
Please note: commentary on this tour is in Spanish.
Now that restoration work on the main historical and religious monuments of Lorca is practically complete following the earthquake damage suffered in May 2011 a series of guided tours and visits are being held in order to welcome back visitors, and one of the most interesting is at the convent church of the Virgen de las Huertas just outside the main city centre.
The convent and Sanctuary of the Virgen de las Huertas are devoted to one of the patrons of the city, a legendary apparition of the Virgin Mary in 1244, when Prince Alfonso of Castilla, later Alfonso X “El Sabio”, was camped in this area outside Lorca as he prepared to conquer the city from the Moors. The story runs that he benefited from a thick fog which kept the movements of his troops hidden from the enemy and that in his tent was an image of Mary, and in gratitude for her supposed intervention he decided to build a shrine so that she could stay in this location.
The feast day of the Virgen de las Huertas is still celebrated in Lorca every 8th September, and as part of the same festivities the traditional “Feria Chica de Lorca” is held.
The original church, which was built by the Franciscans in 1467, was destroyed by flooding in 1653, although local tradition has it that the remains were used as the basis of the new construction and its tower. In reality, though, it seems that building had to start from scratch again, and this was a long process, lasting until the 19th century.
Further importance was added to the site in the year 2000, when archaeologists gained permission to excavate inside the convent and church and discovered the remains of a 10th-century Moorish palace. When repairs were made necessary by the earthquakes which hit Lorca on 11th May 2011 further elements of the palace were uncovered, and these Moorish remains, as well as the Christian church above them with its fabulous collection of mural paintings, can now be visited under the terms of an agreement between the Franciscan Order and the Town Hall.
The one-hour group visits are held on the first Saturday of every month at 12.30, although additional sessions can be added if there is sufficient demand and the maximum group size is exceeded.
There is also a visit on the third Sunday of every month, starting at 12.30.
The cost of joining the tour is 4€ per head (free for under-12s or 1 euro for friends of Lorca Taller del Tiempo), and prior reservation is essential at www.lorcatallerdeltiempo.com or call 968 47 90 03 for more information.(Click here for link, NB Click Comprar entrada individual to purchase ticket and make a reservation.) or via the tourist office.
To be listed on the CAMPOSOL TODAY MAP please call +34 968 018 268.
To be listed on the CONDADO TODAY MAP please call +34 968 018 268.
Guidelines for submitting articles to Camposol Today
Hello, and thank you for choosing CamposolToday.com to publicise your organisation’s info or event.
Camposol Today is a website set up by Murcia Today specifically for residents of the urbanisation in Southwest Murcia, providing news and information on what’s happening in the local area, which is the largest English-speaking expat area in the Region of Murcia.
When submitting text to be included on Camposol Today, please abide by the following guidelines so we can upload your article as swiftly as possible:
Send an email to editor@camposoltoday.com or contact@murciatoday.com
Attach the information in a Word Document or Google Doc
Include all relevant points, including:
Who is the organisation running the event?
Where is it happening?
When?
How much does it cost?
Is it necessary to book beforehand, or can people just show up on the day?
…but try not to exceed 300 words
Also attach a photo to illustrate your article, no more than 100kb