The Castle-Basilica of Caravaca premieres new external illumination

LED lights highlight the beauty of the buildings at the heart of Caravaca’s identity

At a ceremony on 17^th November which was attended by Fernando López Miras, the president of the regional government, among others, the new exterior lighting of the Basilica of Caravaca de la Cruz was switched on for the first time, revealing the building in its full glory following an investment of more than 200,000 euros.

127 state-of-the-art Led projectors are now in use to illuminate the building after dark, considerably reducing the carbon footprint of the previous lighting, and Mayor José Francisco García Fernández the new system allows the Basilica and castle to continue being the most important visual and emotional landmark of the Holy City.

Those responsible for designing the new lighting (Jesús Castillo and Roberto Lurueña), had previously worked on other buildings of national heritage status, including the cathedrals of Burgos, Palencia and Ávila and the Templo de Debod in Madrid, and the result of their efforts is an entirely uniform distribution of light which highlights the most important elements of the whole, such as the marble pillars of the main doorway and the Capilla de los Conjuros. Rather than full-on lighting, they have opted for a blend of light and shade.

After the switching on of the lights, those present enjoyed the recital offered by Argentinian tenor Martín Savi.

The castle of Caravaca de la Cruz is one of the most iconic monuments in the Region of Murcia and is a point of reference for religion, culture and tourism. There was previously a Moorish fortress on the site but after a rebellion of the Moors in 1264-1266 it was given to King Alfonso X to the Order of the Templars.

Inside the castle walls (many of which still stand along with 14 towers) is the Real Basílica Santuario de la Vera Cruz, which was built starting in 1617 under the supervision of Father Alberto de la Madre de Dios. The building was completed in 1703 and its highlight is without a doubt the façade, one of the finest examples of baroque architecture in Murcia with a wealth of ornamental detail and floral reliefs.

Inside is the fragment of the True Cross on which Jesus was crucified (a “lignum crucis”) known as the Vera Cruz de Caravaca, which has been in the city since the 13^th century and which has shaped the spiritual identity of Caravaca as well as attracting pilgrims from all over the world.

For more local events, news and visiting information contact the local tourist office (see below) or go to the home page of Caravaca Today.