Our Lady of the Ara of the Arc Source

Marian Invocation of Fountain of the Arc (Extremadura)
Recognized by the Church

Our Lady of the Ara is venerated in his sanctuary, about seven kilometres from Source of the Arc (Badajoz), at the foot of Sierra Morena, on the border with the province of Seville. The hermitage was ordered to build in the late 14th century and was concluded 1494. El nombre «del Ara» remite a la idea de altar. La tradición popular asocia el lugar a antiguos hallazgos y devociones, que conviene distinguir de la historia documentada del edificio.

Main data

Origin and history

Our Lady of the Ara is venerated in his sanctuary, about seven kilometres from Source of the Arc (Badajoz), at the foot of Sierra Morena, on the border with the province of Seville. The hermitage was ordered to build in the late 14th century and was concluded 1494. El nombre «del Ara» remite a la idea de altar. La tradición popular asocia el lugar a antiguos hallazgos y devociones, que conviene distinguir de la historia documentada del edificio.

The image and the sanctuary

The sanctuary is famous for its wall paintingswho have earned the nickname of «Capilla Sixtina de Extremadura»: represent scenes of Genesis and cover vaults and walls of the temple, of Mudejar style. The image of the Virgin of the Ara presides over this ensemble, the goal of the regional pilgrimage of Fountain del Arco and the peoples of Campña Sur.

Sponsorship and coronation

It is very venerated as a patronal advocation of the environment of Fuente del Arco, with its own Romeria. There is no canonical coronation in the sources consulted.

Party and devotion

La to the Ara shrine is the great devotional day, when the faithful go up to the serrana hermitage. The beauty of the place - nature, paintings and silence - makes the visit an experience of prayer, in addition to an artistic treasure of Extremadura.

Link to the Rosary

Under the vaults that narrate the creation of the world, to pray the Rosary before Our Lady of the Ara is to contemplate, with Mary, the work of God from Genesis to Redemption. The road of Romeria, desgranating Avemarias, thus becomes an ascension of the soul to the Mother.