The Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza in Calasparra

Calasparra is one of the municipalities of the Region of Murcia which has been most successful in attracting tourists, not only on account of the famous rice which is grown here (and which has been awarded Denomination of Origin status) and an extensive heritage which includes the clock tower and the remains of wall paintings in the Moorish castle, but also due to the friendly welcome offered by its inhabitants.

Apart from that, the municipality is also unusual in various ways: for example, the most important sanctuary, which is devoted to Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza, is .inside a natural cave..

Inside the Sanctuary there are two figures representing the Virgen de la Esperanza - "la Pequeñica" and "la Grande" (the small one and the large one) - and there is no charge to enter and see them. But what most surprises visitors is the shape of the Sanctuary: despite being located in a rocky area, over the centuries the water of the River Segura has continued to sculpt the land where the church and a shepherd's house are now located.

Originally the Sanctuary was the dwelling of a simple man who happened upon the image of the Virgin. He attempted to move it to a safer place, but it weighed so much that the locals concluded that the Virgen de la Esperanza wished to stay there... and they obliged.