The grandiose and secret Virgin of Monserrate - Orihuela's hidden Baroque gem

Hiding in the hills of Orihuela is the Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Monserrate, a grandiose Baroque church that boasts influences from the Neoclassical era. This church, the most important in the city, was originally venerated by Christians during the reign of the Moors. The name, 'Monserrate', was chosen in the 1400s by the Catalans, Valencians and Aragoneses who settled the city after its conquest. Pope Sixtus IV approved the name on August 12, 1483.

The first church was built on the same site in the 14th century; however, the current structure dates back to the middle of the 18th century. The main entrance and facade are on the square itself. The church's main altar is made of wood, and the organ, pulpit, spacious sacristy, and two main towers made of stone are all part of the church's design. A provisional tower holds three bells. A Cofradía, or brotherhood, inhabits the church and the image of the Virgin is the patron saint of the population.

When a public calamity occurs, the image is taken in procession to the cathedral. The image of the Virgin, made of olive wood and 42 cm tall, was found in a hole made in the mountain in 1306.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons