{"id":119040,"date":"2025-04-05T09:36:23","date_gmt":"2025-04-05T09:36:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mundiplus.com\/?p=119040"},"modified":"2025-04-05T09:43:58","modified_gmt":"2025-04-05T09:43:58","slug":"caravaca-de-la-cruz-pilgrimage-to-another-holy-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mundiplus.com\/en\/caravaca-de-la-cruz-pilgrimage-and-holy-city\/","title":{"rendered":"Caravaca de la Cruz, pilgrimage to another holy city"},"content":{"rendered":"

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In Spain, the most well-known pilgrimage is undoubtedly the Camino de Santiago. However, there is another destination that attracts thousands of pilgrims each year for reasons of faith, history, and spirituality: <\/span>Caravaca de la Cruz<\/b>, in the Region of Murcia. <\/span><\/p>\n

This city holds the honour of being one of the<\/span> five holy cities of Christianity<\/b>, and its sanctuary houses one of the most venerated relics in the world: <\/span>the Vera Cruz<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Caravaca de la Cruz: one of the five holy cities of Christianity<\/b><\/h2>\n

The title of “holy city” is rare. Only five cities in the world have this distinction: <\/span>Jerusalem, Rome, Santiago de Compostela, Santo Toribio de Li\u00e9bana, and Caravaca de la Cruz<\/b>. <\/span><\/p>\n

The recognition was granted by Pope John Paul II in 1998, along with the <\/span>celebration of a perpetual Jubilee Year every seven years<\/b>. This is a privilege that, until then, was only shared by Santiago de Compostela in the Spanish-speaking world.<\/span><\/p>\n

This distinction makes it a <\/span>meeting point for believers<\/b>. They can obtain plenary indulgence by pilgrimaging to its basilica during jubilee years or at other times under certain religious conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n

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History of the Vera Cruz and the origin of the pilgrimage<\/b><\/h3>\n

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The devotion to the Vera Cruz of Caravaca comes from a story that blends faith and legend. <\/span><\/p>\n

According to tradition, in the 13th century, a priest was taken prisoner by the Muslims to the city. There, he was asked to celebrate Mass, but without a cross on the altar, the ceremony was suspended. It was then that two angels descended from heaven carrying a cross with double horizontal arms: the <\/span>relic of the Vera Cruz<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Beyond the legend, the relic \u2014a splinter of the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified\u2014 was <\/span>guarded for centuries by various religious orders<\/b>. Today, it remains the spiritual core of the city and the driving force of the pilgrimage.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Camino de la Cruz: routes, stages, and duration<\/b><\/h3>\n

Though more religious in nature, the Camino de la Cruz is inspired by the Camino de Santiago. Additionally, it offers pilgrims different routes to reach Caravaca. The two main routes are:<\/span><\/p>\n