Sanctuary of la Virgen de Gracia (Caudete) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sanctuary of la Virgen de Gracia |
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| Native name Spanish: Santuario de la Virgen de Gracia |
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| Location | Caudete, Spain |
| Official name: Santuario de la Virgen de Gracia | |
| Type | Non-movable |
| Criteria | Monument |
| Designated | 1992 |
| Reference no. | RI-51-0007360 |
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The Sanctuary of the Virgin of Grace (or Santuario de la Virgen de la Gracia in Spanish) is a special church in Caudete, a town in Spain. It's located in the province of Albacete, which is part of the Castile-La Mancha region. This sanctuary is a place where people honor the Virgin Mary.
Contents
History of Caudete and the Sanctuary
The area where Caudete is located was taken over by James I of Aragon in the 1200s. Later, in 1737, it became part of the Kingdom of Murcia. Finally, in 1833, it joined the province of Albacete.
The Miraculous Statue
The church grew up around a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary. People believed this statue could perform miracles. Sadly, the original statue was destroyed in 1936. A new statue was carved in 1941 to replace it.
An Ancient Legend
There's an old story about the original statue. It says that St Benedict himself, a very important saint, knew that his monastery of Montecassino would be destroyed in the future. So, he supposedly hid the statue of the Virgin in a small prayer place near an old monastery in Caudete.
During the many centuries when Muslims ruled Spain, the statue stayed hidden underground. Then, in 1414, a shepherd named Juan Lopez found the statue.
Building the Sanctuary
After the statue was found, a group of people formed a "confraternity." This was a religious group dedicated to honoring the statue. From 1741 to 1758, the church you see today was built.
The church has a mix of different building styles, which is called an "eclectic style." Some parts look like the fancy and detailed Rococo style. Other parts remind us of the Isabelline Gothic style, which was popular in Spain a long time ago. The church was repaired and updated in the 1900s. In 1992, it was named a Bien de Interés Cultural, which means it's an important historical monument in Spain.
See also
In Spanish: Santuario de la Virgen de Gracia (Caudete) para niños
