Sanctuary of the Virgen del Rocio

About

The story of the Sanctuary of the Virgen del Rocio begins on January 20th, 1884, when the region was gripped by a catastrophic drought. In desperation, a farmer placed a statue of the Virgin Mary on the side of the mountain and prayed for rain. A few days later, his prayers were answered, and the locals built the Sanctuary of the Virgen del Rocio in thanks. The beautiful, neo-Gothic church often gets compared to a castle for its hilltop position and robust stone construction. Along with the elegant architecture and great views, the other main draw is the original statue of the Virgin, which was canonically crowned January 20, 1994 in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the miracle.