Photos of Caravaca de la Cruz (Region of Murcia) (July 2023) (Part 1)

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Caravaca de la Cruz is a city and municipality located in the northwest of the Region of Murcia, Spain (Europe). It is currently considered the capital of the Noroeste Murciano region (also known as Noroeste de Murcia), and it is also the head of the judicial district, being the number 1 judicial party of the Region of Murcia. If that weren't enough, it is also part of the social services consortium of Noroeste Murciano.

Caravaca de la Cruz is world-famous for being the place where (according to legend) the original sculpture of the Holy and True Cross of Caravaca was discovered around May 3, 1232; the first pilgrimages began in the 13th century and have continued through the centuries. Today, the original sculpture of the Vera Cruz de Caravaca is preserved in its own Basilica-Sanctuary of the Holy and True Cross of Caravaca, built in the 17th century and located at the top of the city, on the site where there was historically an Arab castle. Since 2003 and by decision of Pope John Paul II, Caravaca de la Cruz is the fifth city in the world blessed with the celebration of the Jubilee Year “In Perpetuum,” which occurs every seven years. Thus, it has become one of the major pilgrimage destinations in Christianity alongside other cities in the world like Rome, Jerusalem, Santiago de Compostela, or Santo Toribio de Liébana (Cantabria). The pilgrimage to Caravaca de la Cruz was so significant in those times that there is even the legendary Camino de Caravaca, a version of the Camino de Santiago for those pilgrimaging to the city of the Vera Cruz.

According to INE data from 2023, it has a population of 25,756 inhabitants and an area of 858.76 km² (this is one of the largest municipalities in all of Spain, being four times larger than the entire Principality of Andorra; however, the total distance of the municipality from the city of Caravaca de la Cruz to the border with Andalucía (to the west of the municipality, via the RM-730 road) exceeds 43 km of travel, which is just over half an hour of journey).

The patrons of Caravaca de la Cruz are San Salvador and the aforementioned Holy and True Cross of Caravaca; their patron festivities, in honor of the Holy and True Cross of Caravaca and declared of International Touristic Interest, take place around May 1; during these festivities, the Holy and True Cross of Caravaca is accompanied by the famous Horses of Wine and the Moors and Christians.