Churches and Sanctuaries in Villena
Sacred Spaces That Give Soul to the Festival
The Moors and Christians Festival of Villena cannot be understood without its deep religious connection. Beyond the colourful parades or the thunder of arquebuses, devotion to the “Virgen of Virtudes”, the city’s patron saint, is the backbone of the entire celebration.The churches of Santiago Apóstol, Santa María, and the Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de las Virtudes are not just historical monuments: they are living spaces that host some of the most moving and symbolic events of the festival.
Archpriestal Church of Santiago Apóstol
Located in the heart of the historic centre, the Church of Santiago is Villena’s most emblematic temple. Its imposing Renaissance façade and Gothic-Levantine interior are the setting for some of the most special events on the festival calendar.
Meeting place for festive tradition
During the days leading up to the festivities, the Church of Santiago hosts the official opening mass, presided over by the image of the Virgin on its main altar. It is also the scene of the “Besapiés” ceremony, one of the most intimate and heartfelt moments: hundreds of people, whether dressed in their comparsas official costumes or not, come to kiss the image’s foot as a sign of respect, faith, and gratitude.
Festive music concerts, solemn readings, and official meetings between comparsas and authorities also take place inside.
The church, adorned with flowers, banners, and symbols of the festivities, becomes a space of communion between religious tradition and festive culture.
The Virgin on the main altar
During the festivities, the image of the Virgin of the Virtudes presides over the church from the main altar, surrounded by candles and offerings.
It’s common to see revellers from all the groups enter to ask for protection or give thanks for the moments they’ve experienced.
Church of Santa María
La iglesia del Rabal y del pueblo festero
Located in the Rabal neighbourhood, Santa María is another of the churches that takes centre stage during the festivities.
Although smaller than Santiago, its symbolic value is immense, as it represents the popular roots of the celebration and the involvement of all the city’s neighbourhoods.
Participatory and Tradition Acts
Religious events linked to the groups and the Regidora Mayor (Major Regent), a figure who represents the elegance and commitment of the festivities’ women, are also held at Santa María. This intimate and intimate church serves as a setting for moments of contemplation, prayer, and fellowship amidst the festive fervour.
The procession as it passes by the Church of Santa María.
Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de las Virtudes
5 km from the city center, surrounded by nature, lies the Sanctuary of “Nuestra Señora de las Virtudes”. This place is the spiritual heart of the festivities, as it was here, according to tradition, that the miracle that saved Villena from the plague in the 15th century was performed. Since then, the Virgin was proclaimed the city’s patron saint, and every September she is honoured with the most important celebration of the year.
The Pilgrimage: Beginning and Closing of the Festive Cycle
Every year, on the last Sunday of August, thousands of Villena residents participate in the Pilgrimage of the Ascent: a festive procession in which the image of the Virgin is carried from the sanctuary to the Church of Santiago, now in the centre of Villena. This event marks the beginning of the festivities, accompanied by comparsas, music, arquebuses, and a collective emotion that overflows from every corner of the route.
During the festivities, the image remains in Villena, presiding over religious services from the main altar. And on September 9th, with heavy hearts, the Return Pilgrimage is celebrated, in which the Virgin returns to the sanctuary amid cheers, tears, and farewells. It is the final act of the festivities, the moment when Villena bids farewell to its Patron Saint until the following year.
More than a temple, a symbol of identity.
The Sanctuary of the Virtues is much more than a religious building: it is the spiritual symbol of Villena, the place where each festive cycle begins and ends. It is here where faith becomes celebration, where history is transformed into tradition, and where each step of the Virgin is accompanied by thousands of grateful hearts.