Our Lady of Saints

Patrona de Alcalá de los Gazul (Cadiz)

In an olive grove on the outskirts of Alcalá de los Gazul, the shrine of Nuestra Señora de los Santos keeps the patron of the villa and one of the largest collections of pictorial exvotes in Andalusia.

Origin and history

The tradition links devotion to the border campaigns around the Battle of the Salate (1340) and to a previous battle, the "Pagana" (1339): some soldiers would have seen a crucifix in an olive tree, and there the Cross of the Humiliadero was raised with the motto "Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus," considered the origin of the advocation "of the Saints."

The early sanctuary is located in the 14th century, linked to the Christian repopulation, although its current layout corresponds to the 18th century. It is a center of regional pilgrimage and retains one of the largest and most interesting collections of pictorial exvotes of Andalusia, a testimony of the trust of the faithful. The patron's party is on September 12, with rosemary in the olive grove.

It contains the title "Coronade," but the year of canonical coronation does not consist of the sources.