Our Lady of the Snows

Patrona de Almagro (Ciudad Real)

In a volcanic area to the north-east of Almagro, a Baroque sanctuary raised by the Marquis of Santa Cruz - according to tradition, in vote for the victory of Lepanto - keeps the patron of the city.

Origin and history

The present sanctuary is a set of the first Baroque, built in the 17th century on an earlier hermitage traditionally dated in the 12th century. His promoter was the first Marquis of Santa Cruz, who according to tradition made a vow to lift him up as he left the battle of Lepanto unharmed; the works were completed by his son, the second Marquis, married to the Almagreña Guiomar Manrique de Lara. Its shrimp is richly decorated with Talavera tiles.

The Invocation of the Snow links with the Roman tradition of the "miracle of the snow" on Mount Esquilino on August 5, the date of its patron's feast. The devotion is mainly lived in the Roman and family key: on the second Sunday of May, the Almagreños go up to the sanctuary for a great day of field and coexistence.

Canonical coronation: not found in the sources.