Caravaca de la Cruz: sacred ground & charming streets

Looking for an authentic town in the green interior of Murcia, where culture and tranquility go hand in hand? Caravaca de la Cruz surprised us on all levels: cozy squares, charming alleys and an impressive sanctuary with a view. Perfect as a short trip or stopover during a day trip in combination with, for example, Calasparra or Moratalla.

Caravaca is not just any Spanish town. It belongs to a select group of five holy cities in the world (along with Jerusalem, Rome, Santiago de Compostela and Santo Toribio de Liébana). That’s because of the Holy Cross Relic, which is kept in the sanctuary atop the hill – legend has it that a fragment of the cross on which Christ died miraculously appeared here, brought by angels, during a siege by the Moors in the 13th century. Every seven years, the city celebrates a Jubilee, with special indulgences for pilgrims – the same privilege that Rome and Jerusalem have.

Every year thousands of pilgrims flock here, but outside the holidays it is wonderfully quiet.
We loved:

• The relaxed atmosphere
• The mix of historic buildings and small boutiques
• And above all: that you can easily discover this town in 1–2 hours

On top of the hill, the Santuario de la Vera Cruz towers over the city. You walk up a beautiful staircase with statues, or drive to the parking lot upstairs. The baroque façade and the view are impressive in themselves, but inside you will also find the famous relic of the cross.

Be sure to take a moment to sit at the viewpoint at the sanctuary – you look out over the old town and the surrounding hills.

The story behind the “wine horse festival”: Caravaca’s most famous event is the Caballos del Vino, even recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2019. The legend dates back to the 13th century, when Knights Templar were besieged in the castle and their water supply became contaminated. A group dared to raid to look for water at the springs outside the walls – but they too turned out to be poisoned by the besiegers. The only thing they found was wine, which they loaded onto horses in leather bags and smuggled into the fortress. Every year on May 2, the city commemorates this with a race of richly decorated horses up the steep slope to the castle. Want to know more? The Museo de la Fiesta (or the separate Museo Caballos del Vino) showcases the costumes and harness of the competition over the years.

After your visit to the sanctuary, you will descend to the car-free heart of Caravaca: narrow streets, beautiful squares and small shops. You will find tapas bars, artisan products, a small covered market and some museums such as the Museo de la Fiesta.

Our favorite spots:

• Plaza del Arco: central square with outdoor cafes, named after the 18th century Baroque gate that gives access to the old town
• Calle Mayor: charming shopping street
• Plaza del Hoyo: a hidden square where children can play (and where traditionally the horses in front of the Caballos del Vino are introduced to the public)

There are a lot of affordable tapas bars and restaurants in Caravaca. You can have lunch on the square or opt for a quieter place just outside the center. Try a local dish like migas or arroz murciano.