The church of San Sebastián in Caravaca de la Cruz
This modest 16th century church is now home to a Caravaca music society
Popularly known as the “Ermita del Santo”, the small church in Caravaca de la Cruz dedicated to San Sebastián dates from the early 16th century and is thought to have at one time been an annex of the school and church of the Compañía de Jesús.
The church is a very modest building in the Plaza del Santo, and is built of simple materials such as mortar, with a wooden roof. The outside is unpromising, but inside there are late Gothic murals forming an interesting altar screen, an almost unique feature in the churches of the Region of Murcia.
San Sebastian was called upon to protect from outbreaks of plague and plagues of locusts.
This church also occupies a site formerly used as a burial ground for the Moorish inhabitants of the city prior to the Reconquist.
The church now belongs to the Town Hall of Caravaca, and is currently home to one of the local music societies, as well as the store for the Gigantes y Cabezudos papier màche figures which parade during the Fiestas of the Santísima y Vera Cruz at the beginning of May..
Click map for location: Ermita de San Sebastián Caravaca.
Further information about Caravaca is available from the tourist office (Plaza de España, 7, telephone 968 702424, email turismo@caravacadelacruz.es).
Or for more local information, including the Holy Jubilee Year as well as local news and what’s on, go to the home page of Caravaca Today.