The Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de las Virtudes is located in the area of Las Virtudes, about 6-7 kilometres south-east of Santa Cruz de Mutela, in the province of Ciudad Real. The set is accessed by the road of Las Virtudes and brings together the hermitage, the shrimp of the Virgin and a square bullring.
Documented history
The official Tourism tab of Castilla-La Mancha describes a primitive medieval hermitage, extended between the 15th and 18th centuries. The square bullring is dated between 1641 and 1645. The hermitage conserves a mudejar roof from the 15th century; the Baroque Major Chapel was built in 1711 and the Virgin's shrimp dates back to 1699. The Topographic Relations of Philip II, of 1576, already mention the devotion to the Virgin of Virtues and the existence of ancient buildings in the place.
Tradition
The same tourist source reflects the tradition that places the apparition of the Virgin in the 14th century. It is presented here as a local tradition, not as a documented history or as an affirmation of supernatural.
Legend
A legendary account other than the previous one is not added because the institutional source consulted does not provide another with sufficient data to document it.
Ecclesial State
The place conserves public Marian devotion and religious celebrations. The sources consulted do not contain a formal pronunciation on the supernatural of the apparition; therefore, an ecclesial state of approval is not assigned to this document.
Anecdotes and stories
The sanctuary is attached to a square bullring square of the 17th century, a unique coexistence between religious tradition and popular culture. The tourist source points to celebrations especially linked to the 24 of April, festive of San Marcos, and to the 8 of September, festive of the Virgin.
Prayer
Holy Mary, Mother of Jesus, Virgin of Virtues, pray for those who come to this sanctuary and accompany their needs before your Son. Teach us to live the virtues with humility, charity and hope. Amen.
Sources
Documentary extension
The tourist heritage of Castilla-La Mancha presents the whole as an extended medieval hermitage between the 15th and 18th centuries next to a square bullring of the 17th century, dated between 1641 and 1645. It describes a mudejar roof of the 15th century, a Baroque Major Chapel built in 1711 and a 1699 shrimp with paintings attributed to Antonio Palomino. The artistic attribution is preserved as the attribution of the source, not as the authorship shown here.
The group continues to bring together religious celebrations and popular celebrations, especially around April 24 and September 8. The Topographic Relations of Philip II of 1576 already recorded the devotion to the Virgin of the Old Virtues and Buildings in the place. This historical testimony attests to the antiquity of devotion, while the tradition of an apparition in the 14th century continues to be separate and without a state of supernatural approval.
Source of enlargement
- Official website of Tourism of Castilla - La Mancha, Ermita and Plaza de Toros de las Virtudes; checked on 7 October 2026.
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