The image of the Virgin Mary in Spain is deeply rooted in Spanish Catholic society. She represents one of the most important figures of Christianity as she is the mother of Jesus.

In this article, you’ll learn about the most important Virgins in Spain that have been declared patroness of the cities due to their impact.

The most beautiful and exciting thing about all this is that the Virgin Mary has left her mark differently in every corner of Spain. She is praised uniquely depending on the region. Even Pope John Paul II based much of his pontificate on her. He also dedicated one of his encyclicals to the Virgin.

You’ll be surprised to learn how each province has its own Virgin with a distinctive meaning. I’ll provide you with a list, images, and in-depth explanations of the different stories of the Virgin Mary and her famous apparitions in Spain.

Why is the Virgin Mary so Important in Spain?

The image of the Virgin Mary in Spain has outstanding importance and relevance in Spanish Catholicism. She is a figure of faith and love for the believers and is attributed to all kinds of virtues and qualities. She has become one of the pillars of the presence of Catholic worship in Spanish society. She has been attributed to many names and denominations all over Spain.

The 8 Most Important Virgins in Spain

1. Our Lady of the Pillar

The Patroness of Aragon, the Hispanic world, and the Spanish Civil Guard.

The Virgen del Pilar is one of the Spaniard’s favorite virgins. Did you know it is one of the oldest and most popular devotions in Spain and Latin America? The cathedral basilica of Nuestra Señora del Pilar in the city of Zaragoza is an important baroque temple in Spain. She is the Patroness of Hispanidad because Spain was before known as Hispania, and also of the Civil Guard.

Her relevance in Spanish catholic society made her have her own National Day celebrated on October 12. Many people need clarification on the significance of this day since it is also related to Columbus Day. So, I suggest you read the following article so you can understand the link between these two:

Why is the National Day of Spain on October 12? Hispanic Day!

The Christian legend says that back on January 2, 40 AD, James, who was resting with his disciples, suddenly “heard the voices of angels singing Ave, Maria, Gratia plena and saw the Virgin Mother of Christ appearing, standing on a marble pillar.”

The Blessed Virgin asked the Apostle if he could build her a church there, with the altar around the pillar where she was standing, and promised, “This place will remain until the end of times.”

It is covered in bronze and silver, but on the back there is a small part of it visible, which is uncovered so that it can be touched and kissed by Christians. That visible portion is framed by a golden oval and only a small piece of this marble pillar is accessible to the public.

Thousands of pilgrims of all nationalities come daily to pray to the Virgin of Pilar. Inside, you can see the works of Goya, one of the most famous and renowned Spanish Artists, more than 10 chapels, the incredible organ. You can even see two of the four bombs that fell on the Pilar and didn’t explode during the Spanish Civil War.

The documented history of the temple dates back to the 9th century. After King Alfonso I of Aragon conquered Zaragoza in 1118, the temple was rebuilt with the construction of a Romanesque church, completed until the 13th century.

In 1293, it was decided to build a new building in Gothic-Mudejar style, whose completion lasted until 1518. Later, at the end of the 17th century, they wanted to raise the Basilica in the Baroque style.

Finally, and throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the missing domes and lanterns and the high corner towers were erected, which, in 1961, would give the Basilica del Pilar the appearance with which it is known today.

2. Our Lady of the Forsaken

The patroness of Valencia.

The Virgen de Los Desamparads is a very curious virgin from Valencia. Her origin dates back to the creation of the Psychiatric Hospital of Santa María de Los Inocentes. A confraternity formed in 1414 decided to raise funds for the Hospital. At the end of the century, this organization had an intense influence on Valencian social and religious life, promoting the spread of the cult of the Virgin.

The entities asked King Alfonso the Magnanimous for authorization to build an image of the Virgin so the sculpture could be placed on the coffins during the burial ceremonies —After the foundation of the Hospital and the Confraternity— But in 1493, King Ferdinand the Catholic granted the Confraternity the title of Santa Maria de Los Desamparados, and her image was moved from the Hospital to the Cathedral Chapel. Later in the XVI century, devotion to the Virgin became popular among Spaniards. 

There is a rumor that in 1414 three young men dressed as pilgrims arrived at the Confraternity that maintained the Hospital. The confraternity member who lived in the house had a disabled and blind woman. He received the pilgrims, and they said that they could build an image of the Virgin in four days if they gave them a place to do it and food. After four days without any noise, they forced the door and found the image of the Virgin Mary. They looked for the pilgrimages and were nowhere, so they thought they were angels. In addition, the brother’s wife recovered her sight. Isn’t this shocking?! 

3. Our Lady of Covadonga

The co-patron of Asturias, also known as: La Santina

One of the most remarkable places in Spain is where the Covadonga virgin is located. Everything started in 722 when the Arabs thought they had conquered Spanish territory. Still, when they were going to invade the Gallic lands, they realized that they didn’t invade the unknown mountains of Asturias.

It’s said that the Covadonga cave was where King Pelayo used to take refuge and attack the troops. The king had a Christian image of the Virgin with him. It was located in that cave as a way to give him protection. King Don Pelayo and his small Christian army defeated the Muslim troops in these mountains and later began the reconquest. There is a rumor that the Virgin helped the Christians led by Don Pelayo, causing a rockslide in the battle of Covadonga. This fact will be the turning point for the Christians to win against the Arab army. Later, Pelayo built an altar in the same cave to pay tribute to the Virgin.

September 8 is the day Asturias celebrates its regional festival in honor of the Virgin of Covadonga, also known as La Santina.

King Alfonso XII ordered the construction of the Sanctuary in 1877. This great Church is impressively beautiful, one reason for this is its location. The valley of Covadonga is located between the sea and the Picos de Europa, near the town of Cangas de Onis, in the interior of eastern Asturias in Northern Spain. To see related locations, visit the following posts:

Cities in Northern Spain: 12 locations and best spots to visit

7 Different And Incredible Landscapes You Will Find in Spain

4. Our Lady of the “Bien Aparecida”

The patron of the Diocese of Santander and the Autonomous Community of Cantabria.

If you want to visit this Virgin, I will assure you that you will have a great and very special memory of her. The legend says that in 1605, some children grazing with cattle saw a solid and powerful light coming out of the Hermitage of San Marcos. They were fascinated with that light and went to see where it was coming from. In a small window, they saw the carving of a Virgin, which today is known as La Bien Aparecida.

Some say they tried to move the Virgin from the hermitage to the Church of San Pedro, but a storm prevented it. Finally, the carving remained in the same area where it was found. A century later, the Sanctuary of La Bien Aparecida was built. Nowadays, this Sanctuary is run by a Trinitarian community, which preserves it as a place of pilgrimage and spiritual encounter. I recommend you see this Virgin. It’s a spectacular place with great views of the Asón Valley and beautiful hiking trails in the surrounding area. Did you know that the Sanctuary was declared of Cultural Interest in 1983?

The day that the Bien Aparecida is celebrated is September 15. This festivity attracts people from all over Cantabria and many parts of Spain. There is a pilgrimage and a street market. All of this festivity has been declared a Festival of Regional Tourist Interest.

5. Virgin of Montserrat

The Patron Saint of Catalonia.

The Virgen de Montserrat is also known as the “Morenita.” They use this name because of the dark color of her face. It is a Romanesque wood carving dating from the end of the 12th century. Her color results from the transformation of the varnish on her face and hands due to the passage of time.

Let me give you a little bit more context about this Virgin. The Arab invasion began in 711, and some clergymen fled, taking the Virgin with them and other relics they hid near the Guadalupe River, where they remained for five hundred years. In the 14th century, during the reconquest and the expulsion of the Moors, the divine image saw the light again.

Rumor has it that the Virgin appeared to a shepherd named Gil Cordero, also known as Gil de Santa Maria, while he was with his cattle in an unpopulated area near the Guadalupe River.

Legend says that in the year 880, one Saturday evening on the mountain of Montserrat, some little shepherds saw a great light descend from the sky, accompanied by a beautiful melody. The following Saturday, the children talked to their parents about the phenomenon. The parents went to the mountain, and the vision was repeated. After that, the Rector of Olesa accompanied them for the next four Saturdays, and they all witnessed the image! They found in a cave the image of St. Mary. The bishop wanted to move in procession to Manresa, but as soon as they took it out, the image was so heavy that they could not move it. The bishop interprets the will of the Virgin to stay in that place and orders the chapel’s building.

They celebrate The Virgen of Montserrat in Catalonia every April 27. The chapel is full of popular events such as Sardana dances, (read more) Castellers performances, dances with sticks, and a mass in front of the statue in the monastery. The day before, April 26, they celebrate musical performances and special readings, finishing the Eucharist of Eve like this.

6. Our Lady of Guadalupe

The patroness of Extremadura.

The Virgin of Guadalupe is located in Extremadura, in a unique religious building that is a mixture of Gothic, Mudejar, Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical styles. Its construction was developed throughout the 13th to the 18th century. UNESCO declared the Monastery of Guadalupe a World Heritage Site in 1993.

As I mentioned earlier, in 711, the Arab invasion began, and some clergymen wanted to take the Virgin with them, among many other relics. They hid all the relics close to the Guadalupe River, where they remained for 500 years. In the 14th century, during the reconquest and the expulsion of the Moors, the divine image reappeared. The legend says that the Virgin appeared to a shepherd while he was in an unpopulated area near the Guadalupe River.

The origin of this Virgin dates back to 1389 when the Church was transformed into a monastery. They chose the date of September 8 because it is considered the feast of the Nativity of Mary. Interestingly, the Monastery of Guadalupe has its head and perpendicular axis oriented to the exact point where the sun rises on September 8. Moreover, the religious feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe’s patron saint of Extremadura, in 1928, received the title of Queen of Spain and coincided with the official date of the Day of Extremadura!!

7. Our Lady of Valvanera

Patroness of La Rioja.

The name of the monastery where the Virgin is located is called Valvanera. Interestingly, the name comes from the Latin expression “Vallis Venaria,” which means “Valley of the veins of water” because it is a valley with abundant fountains, streams, and waterfalls. In my opinion, the valley where the monastery is located reminds me of the Covadonga monastery.

The appearance of the virgin image is related to Latin History, written in 1419, a translation of a Latin text from the 12th century. It tells the story of the thief Nuño Oñez. He heard the prayer of one of his future victims as if we were a thief when he commended himself to the Virgin Mary to help him change his life. One day during his prayers, an angel appeared to him, telling him to go to Valvanera in search of an oak tree that was very different from the rest trees. From the foot of this tree was a fountain with several swarms of bees, and it was here where he could find an image of the Virgin Mary. He went to that place with a clergyman and found the image. The same place where they would begin to build a place of worship for the Virgin in the 9th century. This discovery would give rise to the Monastery of Valvanera, where Benedictine monks currently venerated and guarded this image.

Every year they celebrate the Virgin of the Valvanera on September 8.

8. The Virgin of Candelaria

The patron saint of the Canary Islands.

The Virgin of Candelaria is fascinating, and I will tell you why. The Virgin of Candelaria, also known as “La Morenita,” just like the Virgin of Montserrat, celebrates the invocation of the Virgin Mary in the Canary Islands.

Well, at the end of the 14th century, two Canarian shepherds were on one of the beaches of the island (the beach of Chimisay). On that beach, there was a statue of the Virgin Mary. One of the shepherds saw the sculpture and decided to throw a stone at it. But his arm was suddenly paralyzed. Then, the other shepherd tried to stab the statue with a knife and couldn’t do it either. As a result, he ended up stabbing himself. This apparition caused an extraordinary radiance, which is why they gave the name Candelaria (relating to the light of a candle).

The shepherds were perplexed by what had happened. They ran to the closest village to explain everything that had happened. After an hour, when they were less frightened and calmer, they returned to pick up the Virgin. When they touched the image, the Virgin healed all their wounds. Nowadays, we can see a Cross and the Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora del Socorro in that place.

The Virgin of Candelaria is the General Patroness of the Canary Archipelago and celebrates her feast twice a year. First, February 2 is the day of the Purification of the Virgin, and it’s a public holiday in Tenerife. Then, on August 15, they celebrate Assumption Day. The devotion to the Virgin of Candelaria has spread to other parts of the world, such as Latin America.

List of Patroness Virgins in Every Spanish City

Madrid

• Virgin de la Almudena: One legend says that the image was brought from Jerusalem by the Apostle James and one of his disciples. Due to different reasons, the image was lost. Still, during the conquest of the city, Alfonso XI promised to look for the hidden image of the Virgin, so he conquered Toledo and was able to find it. The cathedral of Madrid is of late Gothic style, possibly made between the 15th and 16th centuries.
•  Virgin of Atocha: invokes the Virgin Mary, whose image is in the Royal Basilica of Our Lady of Atocha in Madrid. This Virgin is the oldest patron saint of the city. From the 16th to the 18th centuries, she was considered the special protector of the kings of Spain and patroness of the monarchy. This Virgin is one of the so-called black Virgins. See related articles about the Spanish Monarchy here:
•  Virgin of la Paloma: The Virgen de la Almudena is the official patron saint of Madrid. However, the famous patron saint of Madrid’s people has always been the Virgen de la Paloma, which also represents the Virgen de la Soledad. It’s a painting in the center of an altarpiece located in Virgen de la Paloma and San Pedro el Real church. They attributed several miracles to this Virgin, and her cult spread rapidly, reaching her devotion to the Royal House. 
•  Flor de Lis: One of the fantastic things in the Almudena Cathedral is the image of Our Lady of the Fleur de Lis. It’s A frontal image of the Virgin Mary with the Child on her knees. The fleur de lis she holds in her right hand explains the name by which the image will be known since the 17th century when it began to receive worship. She has this name because it refers to the Muslim era. Almudena comes from al-mudayna, a term used to refer to the walled military enclosures in the area now occupied by the Royal Palace and the cathedral where the image is.

Barcelona

• Nuestra Señora del Socorro: Our Lady of Help is a Marian invocation of the Catholic Church in Barcelona. Her image has its main center of worship in the Cathedral of Barcelona. It was found at the end of the 17th century, very close to the hollow trunk of a tree.
•  La Mercé: The legend says that on September 24, 1218, the Virgin appeared simultaneously to King James I, St. Peter Nolasco, and St. Raymond of Penyafort. She asked these three persons to create an order of monks dedicated to saving Christians imprisoned by the Saracens. A few centuries later, Barcelona suffered a plague of locusts and put itself in the hands of the Virgin of La Mercè. Once the plague was over, the City Council named her patron saint of Barcelona. But the Pope didn’t ratify the decision until two centuries later, in 1868. Basilica de la Merced is a baroque church located in the Plaza de la Merced, in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona.
•  La Montserrat: Our Lady of Montserrat, popularly known as La Moreneta, is Catalonia’s patron saint and one of Spain’s eight patron saints. But to know more, I recommend you read the section in which I talk about this Virgin above. 

Sevilla

• Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza: This Virgin is also known as “The Queen of Triana” because of the enormous devotion she arouses in her neighborhood. It has been the reference throughout the history of other corporations founded for the inspiration of Esperanza. It’s an image that represents the Virgin Mary.
• The Virgen de las Angustias: is a divine image from the 16th century. It can be seen in the city of Granada in the Basilica of Our Lady of Sorrows. The Virgin represents the moment Mary holds the body of Christ descended from the Cross before being buried.
• Virgen de la Hiniesta: According to legend, the Apostle St. James the Greater came to preach in Spain and established the Church in Seville, and placed in charge of his disciple Pius. Pio made an image of the Virgin that he put in the Church of Santa Jerusalem.
• Virgin de Los Reyes: This Virgin was granted the honors of “captain-general” in 1939 and perpetual mayoress of the city. She was guarding the keys and baton of command. She is also the patroness of the Council of Brotherhoods of Seville and was awarded the city’s gold medal in 1958, being the first image to obtain it. The legend believes that it was created by the angels of heaven.

All other cities

Las Rutas Marianas

The Marian Routes can be defined as an itinerary that links different Marian Sanctuaries and has a religious and cultural interest. The beauty of this experience is that they perfectly combine spirituality with the richness that gives us all the environment that surrounds these shrines, both from Heritage and Cultural perspectives.

Marian Route: Zaragoza - Santiago de Compostela

Here you can see the following Virgins:

1. Virgen del Pilar, in Zaragoza.
2. Virgen Dolorosa de Umbe, in Bilbao.
3. Virgen del Carmen, in San Sebastián de Garabandal.
4. Virgen de Covadonga, in Covadonga.
5. Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Conforto, in A Pontenova.
6. Santiago de Compostela Church.
7. Virgen de Fátima, in Pontevedra.
8. Virfen de Fátima, in Tuy.

Marian Route: Santander - Granada

Here you can see the following Virgins:

1. Virgen del Carmen, in San Sebastián de Garabandal.
2. Virgen de La Clemencia, in Ávila.
3. Santa María de Guadalupe, in Guadalupe.
4. Nuestra Señora de Los Dolores, in Badajoz.
5. Nuestra Señora de Las Gracias de Onuva, in Puebla del Rio near Sevilla.
6. Virgen del Espino, in Chauchina near Granada.

One of the highlights of these routes is that they are an excellent opportunity to visit the emblematic churches that mark architectural periods of history. These wonders were created centuries ago, and their relevance is enormous internationally. Unesco declared World Heritage Sites some of these spaces, and the architects who made them have left an impressive legacy in Spain. Find out all about this topic in the following articles:

The 9 Best Spanish Architects and their Legacy in Spain

The Spanish Architecture and the 21 Wonderful Mediterranean Buildings

Marian Route: Alicante - San Sebastián

Here you can see the following Virgins:

1. Santuario y Basílica de Loyola, in Azpeitia.
2. Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu, in Oñate.
3. Santo Caliz, in Monasterio San Juan de La Peña.
4. Santuario de Torreciudad, in Torreciudad.
5. Virgen de Montserrat, in Montserrat.
6. Virgen de La Mercé, in Barcelona.
7. Santo Cáliz, in Valencia.
8. Virgen de Los Desamparados, in Valencia.
9. Nuestra Señora del Castillo De Agres, in Alicante.

A Prayer to the Virgin Mary in Spanish

The Virgin Mary is venerated in Catholicism. So there are prayers dedicated to them as the following:

“Hail Mary,
full of Grace,
the Lord is with thee.
blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners
now, and at the hour of death.
Amen.”

“Dios te salve, María. Llena eres de gracia, el Señor es contigo. Bendita tú eres entre todas las mujeres y bendito es el fruto de tu vientre: Jesús. Santa María, Madre de Dios, ruega por nosotros pecadores, ahora y en la hora de nuestra muerte. Amén.”

Throughout this article, as you can see, many Virgins are being praised and devoted around the country. It is awe-inspiring how religion, traditions, and shared values can unite people to venerate an important figure representing love, hope, and faith in society.