Almost eight centuries of devotion
Tradition dates the Apparition of Our Lady of the Head to 1227, when the Virgin Mary appeared to the shepherd Juan Alonso de Rivas on Cerro del Cabezo, in the heart of Sierra Morena. Since then, devotion to “La Morenita”, as she is affectionately known, has given rise to what is considered the oldest pilgrimage in Spain, officially designated a Festival of National Tourist Interest, as well as to a network of affiliated brotherhoods established in numerous towns and cities across the country.
To mark the 799th anniversary, the main Brotherhood has unveiled a commemorative poster created by painter Jesús Zurita as part of a programme of religious and cultural events leading up to the major Eighth Centenary celebrations in 2027.
An invitation from the Mayor of Andújar
The Mayor of Andújar, Francisco Carmona Limón, has extended an open invitation to worshippers and visitors alike: “It is an honour, once again, to invite everyone to join Andújar for one of the most cherished nights in our calendar: the commemoration of the Apparition of our Patron Saint, the Blessed Virgin of the Head. This 799th anniversary offers an opportunity to rediscover everything Andújar represents. Visitors will find a place where devotion, history and nature coexist in a truly unique way.
“The Sanctuary, set in the heart of our Sierra, offers an experience that goes beyond the religious dimension, surrounded by one of Europe’s best-preserved natural areas and an exceptional environmental heritage. We want this anniversary to serve as an invitation to discover our city and its surroundings, as a prelude to the Jubilee Year and the historic Eighth Centenary of the Apparition that we will celebrate in 2027.”
A unique setting: faith, nature and starry skies
The Royal Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Head is much more than a place of pilgrimage. Standing on Cerro del Cabezo in the heart of the Sierra de Andújar Natural Park, it forms part of one of Europe’s most remarkable natural environments, turning a visit into an experience that combines spirituality with nature at its most pristine.
The world’s largest Starlight Reserve and Destination. Stretching for more than 400 kilometres and encompassing 57 municipalities across the provinces of Jaén, Córdoba, Seville and Huelva, Sierra Morena holds Starlight certification, endorsed by the Starlight Foundation and UNESCO. The distinction recognises skies that are virtually free from light pollution, with more than 60% of nights remaining clear throughout the year. The area surrounding the Sanctuary, including the Mingorramos viewpoint, is one of Andalusia’s leading destinations for astrotourism. It is estimated that only 1% of Europeans today have access to night skies of comparable clarity.
Home to the world’s largest population of Iberian lynx. The Sierra de Andújar is home to the largest population of Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) anywhere in the world. Once considered the planet’s most endangered feline, with barely a hundred individuals remaining at the beginning of the century, the species has made a remarkable recovery thanks to conservation programmes. The area now supports its strongest population and also provides an important genetic source for the reintroduction of the species elsewhere in Spain and Portugal.
Heritage on the banks of the Guadalquivir. In the city itself, Andújar’s historic 15-arch Roman bridge across the Guadalquivir River, restored during the medieval period, adds another important heritage attraction to a destination already distinguished by its religious, natural and astronomical appeal.
Andújar is also home to two remarkable cultural treasures, both preserved in the Church of Santa María la Mayor.
One is an original painting by El Greco, The Agony in the Garden, created during the final period of the Cretan-born artist’s career and displayed in what is known as the El Greco Chapel, one of the city’s foremost artistic attractions.
The other is the Andújar Codex, the only major surviving autograph manuscript by Saint John of the Cross. The original manuscript of Sayings of Light and Love is preserved in the parish archive, while visitors can view a highly faithful facsimile in the Chapel of Christ of Patience.
This combination of centuries-old faith, exceptional biodiversity, protected night skies and outstanding art, together with the opening of new accommodation both around the Sanctuary and in the city, positions Andújar as one of Spain’s most distinctive destinations for religious, nature and cultural tourism. It also strengthens the city’s appeal ahead of the Jubilee Year and the Eighth Centenary celebrations in 2027.
For further information on accommodation and to plan your visit, see the Andújar tourism website.
4 October marks the beginning of the Jubilee Year
The Holy See has granted the Diocese of Jaén a Jubilee Year to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the Apparition. On 4 October 2026, the Holy Door of the Royal Sanctuary and Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Head will be solemnly opened in a ceremony marking the official beginning of the Holy Year, which will continue until 8 December 2027, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.
Throughout these fourteen months, pilgrims will be able to take part in an extensive programme that will include transfers of the sacred image between Andújar and Jaén, extraordinary pontifical celebrations, themed exhibitions and a range of other cultural and tourism initiatives.
For those involved in religious and pilgrimage tourism, 2026 and 2027 are set to become two key years on the calendar. Andújar is preparing to welcome visitors from across Spain and abroad, bringing together faith, cultural heritage, nature — including the outstanding surroundings of the Sierra de Andújar Natural Park — and the warm hospitality that has become one of the city’s defining characteristics.
Key dates
11–12 August 2026 — 799th anniversary of the Apparition of Our Lady of the Head, commemorated overnight
4 October 2026 — Opening of the Holy Door and beginning of the Jubilee Year
2027 — Eighth Centenary of the Apparition of Our Lady of the Head
Andújar Tourist Office: Tel.: 953 504 959, email: oficinadeturismo@andujar.es
