The Sanctuary of the Virgin of Contrueces in Gijón

Perched in Gijón, Spain, the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Contrueces has been a significant landmark where the Virgin venerated in the temple was regarded by many residents of Gijón as the city’s patroness for numerous years. Its lineage can be traced back to the early 10th century, though historians disagree on its origins. Spanish historian Rubén García Álvarez deems it a forgery from the late 11th or early 12th century, while Antonio Floriano Cumbreño concluded that the so-called pseudo-original from A Coruña is an imitative copy of an authentic original. The sanctuary resides in the neighborhood of Contrueces, along the Bishop's Highway, the former royal road from Gijón to Oviedo.

During times when it stood vacant, the palace just 50 meters away was frequented by the writer and politician of the Enlightenment era, Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos, who found it an ideal setting for writing, meditating, and praying. The palace has served variously as an asylum, seminary, and children’s school. Regardless of the documentation's authenticity, the sanctuary remains an integral part of Gijón's religious and cultural legacy.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons