Monuments in Málaga
Cartama – Hermitage of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios
Cartama – Hermitage of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios
The Hermitage of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios is located at the Monte de la Virgen “Mount of the Virgin), next to the Castle, in Cártama.
The Hermitage of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios is an excellent example of social and religous integration beginning in the aftermath of the Christian Reconquest (1485), when the legendary find of the Virgin takes place. This particular fact consolidates once and for all when the adoration to Nuestra Señora de los Remedios arises due to the 1579 epidemic. The great devotion to the Virgin remains alive these days, having a significant impact for the Guadalhorce Valley region, as evidence by the “romería” and the flow of pilgrims at any time of the year.
You will reach the Hermitage of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios by following a long, winding, steep way. It is located on the top of a hill called “Mount of the Virgin”.
It was built in the 17th century on the remains of another original 15th century shrine. The simple and popular exterior appearance of the temple coexists with the overellaborate Baroque style in its internal decoration. The hermitage has one single nave covered by a half barrel vault. Inside, one can find the image of the Virgen de los Remedios (Patron Saint of Cártama), located on an artistic silver shrine in a Niche Tower. It basically consists of a structure with a hexagonal plan, a vault divided into six sections and some rich decoration based on paintings representing birds and flower located in pedestals and pilasters.
Marian image of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios
When the Catholic Monarchs reconquered Cártama, the patronage of the Virgin of the Incarnation was established. However, a unique event will mark this image´s history until today. At the end of the 16th century, the Southern Guadalhorce Valley region (as well as other areas of the province) was hit by several epidemics. Many people died in those terrible days, with practically no time to be buried. People thought about death day and night, almost forgetting their businesses and earthly things. Being plunged into such a deep devastation, the local people appealed to faith as a last resort. Someone suggested taking “the Virgin of the Mountain” out in a praying procession. All natives of Cártama, in tears and sobs, accompanied the Virgin on the way down from the Sanctuary to the streets of the town. In that moment, everybody could realize that the terrible disease was gradually ceasing during the passage of the image. It was on 23rd April 1579. This is the moment when the patronage of the Virgin changes, taking the name of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios (Our lady of Remedios). This is such an important date for the local history that it was passed on by oral tradition over the centuries. Since then, every 22nd April, The Virgin of Los Remedios is carried in procession in Cártama, being accompanied by a lot of pilgrims coming from the most diverse places.
Of unknow authorship, the image of the Virgin de los Remedios is a polychrome wooden carrying, with a height of about 20 cm, representing the figure of the Virgin holding Child Jesus in her chest and arms. Today, everybody is familiar with the image of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, dressed in beautiful rabes donated by warshippers. For that reason, the image is almost hidden, being only visible her face, hands and the Child.
Festivity of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios: On 23rd April. The previous day, the descent of the image of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios from the hermitage to the Parish Church of San Pedro takes place. The procession of the Virgin through the streets of Cártama is celebrated on 23rd April. The venerated image is taken from the church to the hermitage on the first Sunday in June.
Date of stay of the image in the temple: Nuestra Señora de los Remedios remains in the Hermitage from the first Sunday in June to 22nd April.
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