Santuario de la Virgen de la Fuensanta

In the vicinity of Villanueva del Arzobispo you'll find the Santuario de la Fuensanta. The buildings of this sanctuary, greatly restyled since the 18th century, are arranged around an interesting tower of Medieval origin, featuring a machicolated balcony from the early Middle Ages.

The interior houses the image of the Patron Saint of Villanueva del Arzobispo, the Virgen de la Fuensanta, the work of the Granada sculptor Domingo Sánchez Mesa, in 1946.

The origins of the chapel of Fuensanta, according to 17th century legend described by the maestro Francisco Rus Puerta, seem to date back to the late 10th century. It relates the miracle of one of women of the Moorish king of Iznatoraf, who recovered her hands and eyes, which had been torn off for protecting Christians, when soaking in the waters at this place. The legend further relates how the Christians built a sanctuary at this spot and a cistern so they could take advantage of the medicinal waters.

It is likely that the primitive fortification was the result of a desire to protect the sanctuary and the spring with a rural castle.