Our Lady of Cortes

«La Morena» · Alcaraz (Albacete)

On a hill over Alcaraz, the only regional shrine in Castilla - La Mancha keeps "La Morena," the Virgin of Cortes, whose devotion extends over five provinces.

Origin and history

It is documented that in 1222 there was already a hermitage dedicated to the Virgin of Cortes, on grounds of the Order of St. John. The devotion grew throughout the 16th century and, by the middle of the 18th century, reached a supraprovintial field, attracting faithful from Albacete, La Mancha, the Montiel Field and areas of Jaén and Murcia. The sanctuary is recognized as the only one at the regional level of Castilla-La Mancha, and was canonically crowned in 1922.

The tradition places in 1222 the apparition of the Virgin in the trunk of an oak to a shepherd named Francisco Alvarez, from the village of Solanilla; it is said that the remains of the oak are preserved under the slab of the sanctuary. Known affectionately as "La Morena," her rosemary - Regional Tourist Interest Party - she moved the image to Alcaraz on August 26 and returned it to the sanctuary on September 8. In the sanctuary the Rosary is prayed to the Virgin every day at 12: 00.