Medieval patron of Murcia makes rare visit to Pilar de la Horadada

Pilar de la Horadada will welcome a piece of neighbouring Murcia’s medieval history when Santa Maria de la Arrixaca visits the municipality on Saturday, August 22.

The historic patron of Murcia and its surrounding countryside will join the Virgin of Pilar and the Virgin of the Assumption of Torre de la Horadada for a day of religious and cultural events.

The visit will give residents and visitors a rare opportunity to see the centuries-old image on the Costa Blanca South, with events taking place in both Pilar de la Horadada and Torre de la Horadada.

Centuries of history behind the image

Santa Maria de la Arrixaca has a history stretching back centuries. The Romanesque image dates from the 12th century and became particularly important following the Christian conquest of Murcia in the 13th century.

King Alfonso X the Wise regarded her as patron of the Kingdom of Murcia and included her in his famous medieval collection of songs dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

The image therefore has a close connection with the history of Murcia and the development of Christian traditions in the region during the Middle Ages.

Today, Santa Maria de la Arrixaca is normally housed in the Church of San Andres in Murcia, making Saturday’s visit a special opportunity to see the historic figure outside its usual home.

Visit begins in Pilar de la Horadada

The programme begins at 11:00 AM with the arrival of Santa Maria de la Arrixaca at Plaza de la Iglesia in Pilar de la Horadada.

The visit will bring together three important religious images, with Santa Maria de la Arrixaca joining the Virgin of Pilar and the Virgin of the Assumption of Torre de la Horadada.

At 12:00 PM, the image will arrive at the church in Torre de la Horadada, where the traditional Angelus prayer will follow.

Visitors can see the historic image

Following the Angelus, visitors will have several hours to see Santa Maria de la Arrixaca inside the church.

The image will remain available to view from 12:15 PM until 8:00 PM, giving people plenty of opportunity to visit during the afternoon.

The day will conclude with a farewell Mass beginning at 8:00 PM before the historic image leaves the municipality.