El Rocío: Sanctuary, Wetlands and Pilgrimage Routes

The Sanctuary of El Rocío has a basilica-style layout with three naves, a transept and a main chapel.

Culture and Pilgrimage

The Ermita de la Virgen del Rocío is surrounded by small white houses in El Rocío. The statue of the Virgin of El Rocío appears to have been created in the Gothic style at the end of the 13th century and was substantially altered in the 17th century. Construction work on the Santuario y Aldea de El Rocío took place from 1964 to 1969.

The Museo Tesoro de la Virgen del Rocío preserves and displays historical and art-historical elements of the cultural heritage of this centuries-old religious institution. The Centro de Interpretación de El Rocío presents the history, culture and traditions of the settlement. Pilgrimages can be organised in connection with the sanctuary.

Landscape and Nature

The Paseo Marismeño runs through wetlands near the sanctuary. Horses and foals, as well as wetland birds such as spoonbills, flamingos, ibises and herons, can be observed there year-round. At the marshland viewpoint on the Paseo Marismeño stands a life-size representation of a Tamborilero, an essential figure in the Romería del Rocío.

The Acebuches de El Rocío preserve a remnant of the original Mediterranean forest. The Acebuche El Abuelo is estimated to be more than 600 years old. Doñana National Park begins at the Acebuches de El Rocío.

On the Charco de la Boca Trail, storks, herons and swallows, among others, arrive from Africa in spring and summer.

Routes and the Annual Cycle

The Ruta del traslado is a 15-kilometre route between the pilgrimage chapel of El Rocío and the parish church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción in Almonte. The Camino del Rocío a Santiago de Compostela begins at the Santuario de la Virgen del Rocío. It is 211 kilometres long and follows paths with great natural and monumental diversity. The two route lengths represent different scales that you can consider separately when planning your own trip.

The Romería del Rocío takes place in the days leading up to Pentecost; its date therefore varies and falls between May and June. During the Romería del Rocío, pilgrims traditionally reach the settlement on foot and by cart.

When booking a holiday apartment in El Rocío, the respective listing pages allow you to compare, above all, travel dates, accommodation category and cancellation policies. This information provides an objective basis for aligning offers with your personal circumstances when planning your trip. Those who wish to assign different priorities to culture, nature observation or longer routes can consider these topics separately in their own planning.

The local area overview also includes a link to Matalascañas.

El Rocío can be reached via a route that runs along Doñana National Park.

For the higher-level travel overview: Almonte.