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Murcia
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Cartagena murcia information
To the northwest of the province of Murcia
is the town of Caravaca de la Cruz. Among
the houses spread around the castle there are fine examples of Murcia's
Renaissance architecture.
The area occupied by Caravaca was previously
inhabited by the Iberian and Roman Argaric peoples, but the origins
of its current appearance are to be found in Arab domination. After
the Christian Reconquest, these territories came to be governed by the
Order of the Temple and later by the Order of Santiago. In this age,
during the 16th and 17th century, Caravaca enjoyed its period of greatest
splendour since it became the political centre of a vast territory.
This town therefore has a great many historic buildings, the product
of its former importance.
One of the main features is its castle, which rises above the houses
of Caravaca. Of Muslim origin, it was extended
in the 15th century by the Knights Templars and later passed into the
hands of the Order of Santiago. Fourteen towers guard the Sanctuary
of the Santísima y Vera Cruz, which was built inside in the 17th century.
The façade, which was added a century later, is in the baroque style.
The whole site has Historic-Artistic Heritage status and houses the
Museum of Religious Art and History. Among its most outstanding pieces
are the adornments of the Caballos del Vino (wine horses). These horses,
lavishly harnessed, are the centre of attention during the Festivals
of Santísima y Vera Cruz, declared to be of National Tourist Interest.
A religious building considered to be a crowning work of Murcia's Renaissance
architecture is also located in Caravaca.
It is the church of Salvador, which has been declared to be a Historic-Artistic
Site. Completing the cultural tour of the city are the church of La
Soledad, today the Archaeological Museum; the Carmelite convent, founded
by San Juan de la Cruz; and the Purísima Concepción, built in the 16th
century on the site of old church of the Knights Hospitaller of San
Juan de Letrán. Renaissance in style, inside it has beautiful Mudejar
coffered ceilings and baroque reredos.
Caravaca de la Cruz is also the fifth holiest
city in the world after Santiago de Compostela, Santo Toribio de Liébana,
Rome and Jerusalem. This town therefore celebrates an Annus Sanctus
every seven years, a time of jubilee and when plenary, solemn and universal
indulgence is granted to all those who make the pilgrimage.
Source: Web server of Instituto de Turismo
de España, TURESPAÑA
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