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Columbus visited the chapel before setting sail to the New World. |
Catedral
de la Merced | Museo de Huelva | Iglesia
de S.Pedro | Sanctuario de Nuesta
Señora de la Cinta
Information
Opening Hours
Mon to Sat: 9 am - 1.30 pm & 4 pm - 7 pm
Sun: 9.30 am - 1.30 pm & 4 pm - 7 pm
Mass
Tues to Sat: 6.30 pm
Sun & Holidays: 12 & 6.30 pm
This whitewashed 15th-century chapel is famous for
its associations with Christopher Columbus. Positioned on El Conquero
hill, about 3 km north of the city centre, it commands a wonderful
view of the Odiel wetlands. Like most sanctuaries and hermitages,
it was originally built outside the town centre and used to be surrounded
by fields and open countryside, which are now colonized by the apartment
blocks of the Conquero residential district. It has been declared
a Site of Cultural Interest.
Inside the chapel is an image of Huelva's patron
saint, the Virgen de la Cinta, which was revered by Columbus and
his sailors. Columbus visited the chapel before setting sail to
the New World and prayed to the virgin, promising to visit again
on his successful return. His visit is depicted in the blue-and-white
tiled illustrations, designed by artist Daniel Zuloaga in 1920,
which line the walls of the chapel's interior. One picture shows
how the Catholics hid an image of the Virgin during the Saracen
invasion, which wasn't discovered again until 1400.
The architectural style of the original chapel was
Gothic-Mudéjar, but the chapel has undergone many
transformations. The portico next to the chapel probably dates from
the 17th century. In the 18th century another floor was added to
accommodate pilgrim visitors.
The interior of the chapel has Mudéjar
features, such as the artesanado timber ceiling. The magnificent
gilded "retablo" (altarpiece) dominates the chapel
and contains a painting of the virgin; the date of the painting
and artist are unknown. The virgin is cradling her child - who is
holding a golden cinta - with her right arm and holding a pomegranate
- a fertility symbol - with her left hand. Her importance to seafarers
is shown by a tiled decoration of Columbus's ship to the right of
the retablo and some more recent additions of two life rings in
front.
To the left of the retablo is an impressive processional
image of the virgin, the so-called "Virgen Chiquita".
This image is a reproduction of that seen in the altarpiece painting
and is used for the annual Virgen de la Cinta pilgrimage on 8 September,
when the virgin is carried from the sanctuary to the Cathedral.
After a month there she is returned to the sanctuary.
The Virgen Chiquita dates from the first pilgrimage,
held in 1759. The Hermandad de la Virgen de la Cinta, the brotherhood
dedicated to the Virgen that was established in the 15th century,
maintains the image and is in charge of carrying it during the pilgrimage.
Outside is a restored attractive patio with orange
trees. On its western flank is a wall belfry, which dates from the
1950s, replacing a much older version.
Open Monday to Saturday 0900-1330, 1600-1900; Sunday
0930-1330, 1600-1900. Mass 1830 Tuesday-Saturday; 1200 and 1830
Sunday and holidays. Admission is free. Bus number 6 runs from the
Plaza de las Monjas in the centre.
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