Santuarios de la Casa de Cristo and La Rogativa

Moratalla is home to two sanctuaries of great devotion and unique natural beauty, linked to its patron saints and deeply rooted in local tradition.

Just 7 km from the town center is the Casa de Cristo, a 17th-century sanctuary in popular Baroque style, whose origin is related to the appearance of Christ to the shepherd Rui Sánchez in 1493. The restored complex includes the church, hostel, and dining areas, and houses the Rock Art Interpretation Center, dedicated to showcasing paintings declared a World Heritage Site.

In a more remote setting surrounded by nature lies the Sanctuary of La Rogativa. Its chapel, built between the 16th and 17th centuries, has been a pilgrimage destination for over four hundred years. Its location between the Revolcadores Massif and Peña Jarota offers a landscape that captivates every visitor.

The Romerías (pilgrimages) are the great festive and devotional link between both sanctuaries. Every first Sunday of May, a pilgrimage is held in honor of Jesucristo Aparecido, where the Patronato and hundreds of pilgrims carry the patron saints from the Parish Church of Ntra. Sra. de la Asunción to the Casa de Cristo. The festival dedicated to the Virgen de la Rogativa takes place on the last Sunday of May.

Each day, a section of the route is covered, reaching the hamlet where the image will stay overnight and where the locals organize a welcome celebration. Especially distinctive are the pilgrims’ dance to the rhythm of the Cuadrillas de Animeros and the traditional bidding for the honor of carrying the platform.