This, the Sanctuary of the Virgen de la Fuensanta, the patron of the city of Murcia, is the spiritual home of all Murcianos. It stands next to the spot where a freshwater spring gave rise to the worship of the Virgin in Murcia: the legend goes that the spring broke forth miraculously, and the first sanctuary was built next to the water which appeared after the apparition of the Virgin. The area around the sanctuary has barely changed since. Efforts have been made to preserve the garden next to the sanctuary, and the famous spring has been glorified with Renaissance architecture which advises the pilgrim of the importance of this holy place. In fact, it is the spring which gave the Virgen de la Fuensanta her name, derived from "fuente santa" (holy spring).
Thesanctuary dates from the 17th century , but this has been a place of worship for far longer. Many centuries time before the Fuensanta different cultures paid homage to different deities here, and up in the mountains there are various caves which were used as places of worship.
Entry to the Sanctuary is free of charge, and when you see the Virgin, whose current appearance is the result of restorations over the years, don't forget to ask her for what Murcia most needs: water for the crops. The Virgen de la Fuensanta is credited with miracles including putting an end to long periods of drought, so don't miss the chance to lend a hand to one of the driest parts of Spain!
