A Beautiful Example of Renaissance in Murcia

Mediterranean Coast Tour of Spain ~ Murcia (Region) The area where Caravaca is located has been inhabited by Argaric, Iberian, and Roman cultures, but the origin of its urban structure must be traced back to its Moorish past. After the Reconquista, these territories were successively governed by the Knights Templar and the Order of Santiago. During the 16th and 17th centuries, Caravaca experienced its golden age, becoming the political center of a vast territory. As a result, the town boasts a significant number of monumental buildings, reflecting its historical importance. One of the main features is the castle that stands above the layout of Caravaca. It originated from the Muslims and was expanded in the 15th century under the patronage of the Knights Templar, later belonging to the Order of Santiago. Its 14 sturdy towers were built to protect the Santísima Vera Cruz shrine constructed at its center in the 17th century. The façade, built a century later, is in Baroque style. The site is a historical-artistic monument, housing a museum of religious art and history. Caravaca is home to one of the most significant examples of Renaissance religious architecture in Murcia. It is the Salvador Church, which has been declared a historical-artistic monument. The cultural tour ends at the Soledad Church, now an archaeological museum; the Carmelite Monastery founded by Saint John of the Cross; and the Purísima Concepción, built in the 16th century on the site of the old Cofradía Hospitalaria de San Juan de Letrán Church. Its origins are Renaissance, with beautiful Mudejar coffered ceilings and Baroque altarpieces inside. Caravaca de la Cruz is also the fifth city where the Catholic Holy Year (Jubilee Year) can be celebrated, alongside Santiago de Compostela, Santo Toribio de Liébana, Rome, and Jerusalem. In this regard, the town celebrates the Holy Year every seven years, allowing people to achieve the Jubilee, plenary, solemn, and universal indulgence. The next Holy Year is in 2024.