Our Lady of Angosto

Villanañe · Valdegovía (Álava)

By the river Humecillo, in Villanañe, the shrine of Our Lady of Angosto is one of the main Marian centers of Álava, patron of the Valdegovía valleys and neighbouring comarcas, invoked as a lawyer for the births.

Origin and history

The legendary tradition tells that in 1089 a pastor of Villanañe, Hernando Martín, found an image of the Virgin floating in the river Humecillo after a raid, in a narrow place from which the name "Angosto" would come; in the place a grotto of the Virgin would be venerated.

The present sanctuary is a Gothic church from the first half of the 14th century, with a Renaissance altarpiece that narrates the life of the Virgin, presided over by a 14th century Marian size of the group of "Andra Mari." The Holy Congregation of Rites declared it in 1955 as patron of the Alavese valleys of Valdegovía, Cuartango and the banks, and of the Bourgals of Losa and Tobalina, with solemn proclamation in 1956. She is invoked as a lawyer for the delivery and protector of children and the camps.

Canonical coronation: not recorded.