El Cristo Del Espíritu Santo – Culture, History and Nature

The Santuario del Santísimo Cristo del Espíritu Santo is located in the hamlet of El Cristo Del Espíritu Santo, which shares its name with the sanctuary. This religious site combines art-historical details with traces of different eras and is also situated at the starting point of a route through a varied landscape.

Culture

The dome above the presbytery is decorated with oil paintings of Saint Teresa of Ávila, Mary Magdalene, Saint Pantaleon and Saint Francis of Assisi. The figure of Christ, Cristo del Espíritu Santo, was created in the 1960s by Madrid sculptor Faustino Sanz Herranz and is integrated into a Baroque altarpiece in the Santuario.

The Santuario also contains an Ecce Homo painting from the Toledo school dating from the 17th century. The painting is the only surviving portrait of the first lords of Malagón. A Roman votive altar dedicated to the god Mars has been preserved in the courtyard.

On the occasion of the patron saint's festivities, the figure of Cristo del Espíritu Santo is carried every year in a procession from the sanctuary to Malagón and subsequently brought back in a very well-attended Romería.

History

The nearby Cruz del Cristo site is of great historical and archaeological importance. A Visigothic necropolis with stone sarcophagi and grave goods was discovered at Cruz del Cristo in the 1990s; the finds are now kept at the Museo Provincial de Ciudad Real.

The La Cruz del Cristo necropolis is considered a rural Visigothic cemetery. Remains of walls were discovered beneath the Templete de la Cruz and are interpreted as a possible 6th-century basilica.

When comparing holiday apartments in El Cristo Del Espíritu Santo, check the travel dates, room category and cancellation policies on the respective offer pages. The three details can be clearly viewed side by side, giving your planning for the desired period an objective structure.

Nature

A valley between El Cristo del Espíritu Santo and the hamlet of Piedralá can be explored on foot or by mountain bike. The route between El Cristo del Espíritu Santo and Piedralá is marked as a short hiking trail (Sendero de Pequeño Recorrido). It begins at the Santuario del Santísimo Cristo del Espíritu Santo and is signposted with yellow-and-white markings.

The route follows the courses of the Molinos and Carrizo streams through Mediterranean vegetation, cultivated valleys and pastureland. After three kilometres, it reaches the Embalse del arroyo de los Molinos. At the end of the Embalse del arroyo de los Molinos, an extensive carpet of ferns grows, turning an intense green in spring.

In one direction, the route reaches the hamlet of Piedralá after approximately 13.5 kilometres and around three and a half hours of walking. Griffon vultures and Spanish imperial eagles may potentially be observed along the way. The various route characteristics help you compare paths and the time required.

Other Places

Other places you can discover on this page include Campo De Criptana, Alcázar De San Juan, Villahermosa, Villanueva De Los Infantes, Almedina, Villanueva de la Fuente, San Lorenzo de Calatrava and Ciudad Real.

The Navas de Malagón are located within the municipality of Malagón: three intermittently water-filled volcanic lakes that are suitable for birdwatching. The Navas de Malagón are designated as a nature reserve, a Site of Community Importance (SCI) and a Special Protection Area for birds (SPA).

To the higher-level travel overview: Ciudad Real.