The church of the Pilgrim Virgin is a scallop-shaped chapel located in the city of

Pontevedra Pontevedra (, ) is a Spanish city in the north-west of the Iberian Peninsula. It is the capital of both the '' Comarca'' (County) and Province of Pontevedra, and of the Rías Baixas in Galicia. It is also the capital of its own municipality wh ...

, in Spain, along the route of

the Portuguese Way The Portuguese Way ( pt, Caminho Português, es, Camino Portugués) is the name of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage routes starting in Portugal. It begins at Porto or Lisbon. From Porto, along the Douro River, pilgrims travel north crossing t ...

of St. James. Construction began in 1778 and it is one of the most symbolic and important buildings in the city of Pontevedra. It is dedicated to the Virgin who, according to tradition, guided

pilgrim A pilgrim (from the Latin ''peregrinus'') is a traveler (literally one who has come from afar) who is on a journey to a holy place. Typically, this is a physical journey (often on foot) to some place of special significance to the adherent of ...

s from

Bayona Baiona is a town and municipality in the province of Pontevedra, autonomous community of Galicia, Spain. It's a tourist town with a medieval historical center situated by the outlet of the Vigo Bay. Its population of just over 11,000 rises to ...

, in the south-west of the

province of Pontevedra Pontevedra is a province of Spain along the country's Atlantic coast in southwestern Europe. The province forms the southwestern part of the autonomous community of Galicia. It is bordered by the provinces of A Coruña, Lugo, and Ourense, ...

, to

Santiago de Compostela Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, in northwestern Spain. The city has its origin in the shrine of Saint James the Great, now the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, as the destination of the Way of S ...

. The church houses the image of the Pilgrim Virgin (19th century), patron saint of the

and, in turn, of the Portuguese Way. Declared a historic-artistic monument in 1982, it is a mixture of late Baroque and Neoclassical forms, such as its main altarpiece, erected in 1789. The shape of its floor plan is inspired by a Scallop shell, the quintessential symbol of pilgrims, ending in a

cross A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two intersecting lines or bars, usually perpendicular to each other. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally. A cross of oblique lines, in the shape of the Latin letter X, is termed a sa ...

. This circular shape is associated with the prevailing typology in Portuguese churches of the time. It was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest with the category of Monument on 13 October 2011.

History

The origin of the chapel is to be found in an image of the Virgin dressed in this way, which French pilgrims brought to

. It attracted so much attention in the city that a Confraternity was founded to worship it. The origins of the Chapel date back to 1753, the year in which a congregation dedicated to the worship of the Virgin of the Way (

) was founded, which later gave rise to the ''Congregation of Our Lady of Refuge and the Divine Pilgrim''. Pontevedra_Santuario_de_la_Peregrina784

In 1757 an altar was built for the image of the Pilgrim Virgin in the already existing Chapel of Nuestra Señora la Virgen del Camino (the Way Virgin), which with the passage of time led to the appearance of problems inherent to having two images under different tutelage (collection of alms, ringing of bells...) between the Brotherhood of the Pilgrim Virgin and that of the Virgen del Camino, the owner of the church. The justice and the municipal government, for these and other reasons, ordered the removal of the image and the altarpiece from the church, which were moved to a new wooden chapel on a site outside the walls of Pontevedra, next to the Trabancas Gate. Two years later, when a quarry was opened on a hill owned by one of the members of the congregation in Saint Maurice of Moldes, the first stone of the sanctuary was laid on 18 June 1778, at the expense of the ''Brotherhood of Nuestra Señora del Refugio y Divina Peregrina'' (Our Lady of Refuge and Divine Pilgrim). The plans were drawn up by the master builder Antonio Souto, who was also a militia sergeant. Its construction was completed in 1792, the year in which the bells, the door, the stained glass windows and later the atrium, consecrated two years later, were put in place. On 2 August 1794, after sixteen years of work, it was blessed by the parish priest of

Saint Bartholomew Bartholomew (Aramaic: ; grc, Βαρθολομαῖος, translit=Bartholomaîos; la, Bartholomaeus; arm, Բարթողիմէոս; cop, ⲃⲁⲣⲑⲟⲗⲟⲙⲉⲟⲥ; he, בר-תולמי, translit=bar-Tôlmay; ar, بَرثُولَماو� ...

and the first mass was held. Around 1795, due to a great storm that caused serious damage to the temple, part of its north tower collapsed, and it was not repaired until 80 years later (1873), when two

Lightning rod A lightning rod or lightning conductor (British English) is a metal rod mounted on a structure and intended to protect the structure from a lightning strike. If lightning hits the structure, it will preferentially strike the rod and be conducte ...

s were also installed. It was not only the chapel that underwent changes. The environment in which the chapel was originally located has also changed up to the present day. The city underwent a major urban redevelopment from the mid-19th century, and the atrium was replaced by a grand staircase. Admiral Casto Méndez Núñez donated a large

Tridacna ''Tridacna'' is a genus of large saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs in the subfamily Tridacninae, the giant clams. They have heavy shells, fluted with 4 to 6 folds. The mantle is brightly coloured. They inhabit shallow waters of coral ...

shell that he brought back from the

Pacific The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the contine ...

on one of his many voyages, which acts as a

holy water font A holy water font or stoup is a vessel containing holy water which is generally placed near the entrance of a church. It is often placed at the base of a crucifix or religious representation. It is used in the Catholic Church, Anglican Churche ...

and is located at the entrance to the chapel. The clock in the north tower was installed in 1896, coming from the Saint

John of God John of God ( pt, João de Deus; es, Juan de Dios; lat, Joannes Dei; March 8, 1495 – March 8, 1550) was a Portuguese soldier turned health-care worker in Spain, whose followers later formed the Brothers Hospitallers of Saint John of God, a ...

Hospital, which had been demolished. The Hospital bells were also installed in the chapel. In 1981 the first restoration of the Sanctuary was carried out to repair major structural damage (there were large cracks in the building caused by a shift in the foundations). It was carried out by César Portela and José Bar Boo. Its second most important restoration was carried out in 2008, restoring Stained glass windows, walls, painting and the

tower clock Clock towers are a specific type of structure which house a turret clock and have one or more clock faces on the upper exterior walls. Many clock towers are freestanding structures but they can also adjoin or be located on top of another buildi ...

, among other elements. The temple is administered by the Cofradía de la Peregrina, who paid for its construction and continues to maintain it and keep it open for worship.

Description

It is a central

floor plan In architecture and building engineering, a floor plan is a technical drawing to scale, showing a view from above, of the relationships between rooms, spaces, traffic patterns, and other physical features at one level of a structure. Dimensio ...

chapel. Its floor plan is inspired by a Scallop shell, the characteristic symbol of the

Pilgrim A pilgrim (from the Latin ''peregrinus'') is a traveler (literally one who has come from afar) who is on a journey to a holy place. Typically, this is a physical journey (often on foot) to some place of special significance to the adherent of ...

s, inside which is inscribed a

. The floor plan is round, but by including the vestibule it takes the shape of a scallop shell. The rotunda that forms the church itself is framed by four

fluted Fluting may refer to: *Fluting (architecture) * Fluting (firearms) * Fluting (geology) * Fluting (glacial) *Fluting (paper) Arts, entertainment, and media *Fluting on the Hump ''Fluting on the Hump'' is the first album by avant-garde band Kin ...

Pilaster In classical architecture, a pilaster is an architectural element used to give the appearance of a supporting column and to articulate an extent of wall, with only an ornamental function. It consists of a flat surface raised from the main wal ...

s, which support a series of segmental arches on which the projecting cornice sits. Above it rises a dome with Lunettes and a lantern. It has a dome, lantern and

cupola In architecture, a cupola () is a relatively small, most often dome-like, tall structure on top of a building. Often used to provide a lookout or to admit light and air, it usually crowns a larger roof or dome. The word derives, via Italian, fro ...

. Inside the church, the rectangular presbytery is covered by a

groin vault A groin vault or groined vault (also sometimes known as a double barrel vault or cross vault) is produced by the intersection at right angles of two barrel vaults. Honour, H. and J. Fleming, (2009) ''A World History of Art''. 7th edn. London: Lau ...

. The main altarpiece, of

neoclassical style Neoclassical architecture is an architectural style produced by the Neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century in Italy and France. It became one of the most prominent architectural styles in the Western world. The prevailing sty ...

, was made in 1789 following the style of Melchor de Prado, although it was modified by his brother Manuel and Juan Pernas Gambino. It ends in a

pediment Pediments are gables, usually of a triangular shape. Pediments are placed above the horizontal structure of the lintel, or entablature, if supported by columns. Pediments can contain an overdoor and are usually topped by hood moulds. A pedim ...

with a relief of the flight into Egypt and the image of the Pilgrim Virgin, a 19th century carving, with the

Child Jesus The Christ Child, also known as Divine Infant, Baby Jesus, Infant Jesus, the Divine Child, Child Jesus, the Holy Child, Santo Niño, and to some as Señor Noemi refers to Jesus Christ from his nativity to age 12. The four canonical gospels, a ...

in her arms, both dressed in short cloak,

pilgrim's staff The pilgrim's staff is a walking stick used by Christian pilgrims during their pilgrimages, like the Way of St. James to the shrine of Santiago de Compostela in Spain or the Via Francigena to Rome. The pilgrim's staff has a strong association wit ...

and carrying a

gourd Gourds include the fruits of some flowering plant species in the family Cucurbitaceae, particularly ''Cucurbita'' and '' Lagenaria''. The term refers to a number of species and subspecies, many with hard shells, and some without. One of the ear ...

. The paintings of Santa Clara, by Polanco and a copy of the Virgin of San Onofre in Rome by

Peruzzi The Peruzzi were bankers of Florence, among the leading families of the city in the 14th century, before the rise to prominence of the Medici. Their modest antecedents stretched back to the mid 11th century, according to the family's genealogist ...

stand out. Also noteworthy is the

in the vestibule, configured with a shell of the

mollusc brought from the

by Méndez Núñez. The crystal chandelier inside the church is a jewel from the end of the 19th century, weighing 250 kilos and measuring 2.50 metres in height. The main façade, the work of Antonio Souto, with the collaboration of Bernardo José de Mier, is preceded by an

atrium Atrium may refer to: Anatomy * Atrium (heart), an anatomical structure of the heart * Atrium, the genital structure next to the genital aperture in the reproductive system of gastropods * Atrium of the ventricular system of the brain * Pulmona ...

with a staircase, perimetered by a balustrade with Pinnacles. At the foot of the staircase is a

fountain A fountain, from the Latin "fons" (genitive "fontis"), meaning source or spring, is a decorative reservoir used for discharging water. It is also a structure that jets water into the air for a decorative or dramatic effect. Fountains were ori ...

and a sculpture of

Teucer In Greek mythology, Teucer (), also Teucrus, Teucros or Teucris ( grc, Τεῦκρος, Teûkros), was the son of King Telamon of Salamis Island and his second wife Hesione, daughter of King Laomedon of Troy. He fought alongside his half-bro ...

at the top. The atrium and the fountain that precede the church make up an urban ensemble of singular typicity and beauty. The Baroque façade is convex and has two sections. The lower one is decorated with

s and the upper one with

Corinthian columns The Corinthian order (Greek: Κορινθιακός ρυθμός, Latin: ''Ordo Corinthius'') is the last developed of the three principal classical orders of Ancient Greek architecture and Roman architecture. The other two are the Doric order ...

and houses the image of the Pilgrim,

patron saint A patron saint, patroness saint, patron hallow or heavenly protector is a saint who in Catholicism, Anglicanism, or Eastern Orthodoxy is regarded as the heavenly advocate of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or perso ...

of the

, at the top in a

niche Niche may refer to: Science *Developmental niche, a concept for understanding the cultural context of child development *Ecological niche, a term describing the relational position of an organism's species *Niche differentiation, in ecology, the ...

, and on each side, also in niches, the images of

Saint James the Greater James the Great, also known as James, son of Zebedee, Saint James the Great, Saint James the Greater, Saint James the Elder, or Saint Jacob (Aramaic ܝܥܩܘܒ ܒܪ ܙܒܕܝ, Arabic يعقوب, Hebrew בן זבדי , '' Yaʿăqōḇ'', Latin '' ...

and St. Roch. All three are dressed as Pilgrims. The niches have a scallop

vault Vault may refer to: * Jumping, the act of propelling oneself upwards Architecture * Vault (architecture), an arched form above an enclosed space * Bank vault, a reinforced room or compartment where valuables are stored * Burial vault (enclosure ...

and are decorated with earflaps. At the top, there is a split

in the centre of which is a sculpture that is an allegorical image of

Faith Faith, derived from Latin ''fides'' and Old French ''feid'', is confidence or trust in a person, thing, or In the context of religion, one can define faith as " belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion". Religious people ofte ...

. On either side are two equal towers that give the church a singular slenderness, elegance and solemnity. The lower section has a large semicircular doorway, divided by a lintel, and above it are three windows with upper pediments, the central one triangular and the lateral ones curved.

Symbol of the city

The church of the Pilgrim Virgin has established itself as a symbol of the city of

. In 2011 the

Fábrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre The Royal Mint of Spain ( es, Fábrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre – Real Casa de la Moneda, lit=National Coinage and Stamp Factory – Royal Mint, FNMT-RCM) is the national mint of Spain. The FNMT-RCM is a public corporation that is attached t ...

(FNMT) included it as a symbol of the city on the reverse of the

coin A coin is a small, flat (usually depending on the country or value), round piece of metal or plastic used primarily as a medium of exchange or legal tender. They are standardized in weight, and produced in large quantities at a mint in order t ...

dedicated to Pontevedra in the provincial capitals series, which includes the 50 Spanish provincial capitals and the two autonomous cities of

Ceuta Ceuta (, , ; ar, سَبْتَة, Sabtah) is a Spanish autonomous city on the north coast of Africa. Bordered by Morocco, it lies along the boundary between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It is one of several Spanish territorie ...

and Melilla. The coin has the denomination of 4 Reales and is minted in 925 silver. It has a mintage of 15,000 and is presented in a

triptych A triptych ( ; from the Greek adjective ''τρίπτυχον'' "''triptukhon''" ("three-fold"), from ''tri'', i.e., "three" and ''ptysso'', i.e., "to fold" or ''ptyx'', i.e., "fold") is a work of art (usually a panel painting) that is divided ...

display sleeve with the coin encapsulated and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. The Royal Mint accompanies it with the following explanation:

''The Sanctuary of the Pilgrim Virgin, where Our Lady the Pilgrim Virgin is venerated, is one of the most representative buildings in the city of Pontevedra. Built in the 18th century, its
floor plan In architecture and building engineering, a floor plan is a technical drawing to scale, showing a view from above, of the relationships between rooms, spaces, traffic patterns, and other physical features at one level of a structure. Dimensio ...
resembles the shape of a Scallop shell, the universal symbol of the pilgrimage to
Santiago de Compostela Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, in northwestern Spain. The city has its origin in the shrine of Saint James the Great, now the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, as the destination of the Way of S ...
. Located in the centre of the city, on the route of
the Portuguese Way The Portuguese Way ( pt, Caminho Português, es, Camino Portugués) is the name of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage routes starting in Portugal. It begins at Porto or Lisbon. From Porto, along the Douro River, pilgrims travel north crossing t ...
, it was built with the financial contributions of the Brotherhood of the Pilgrim Virgin and has been declared an Asset of Cultural Interest''.

The Sociedad Estatal Correos y Telégrafos de España also included it on 12 December 2014 in the

postmark A postmark is a postal marking made on an envelope, parcel, postcard or the like, indicating the place, date and time that the item was delivered into the care of a postal service, or sometimes indicating where and when received or in transit ...

of the main post office of Pontevedra within the collection of commemorative postmarks of Spanish provincial capitals. The launch of this postmark is included in the campaign undertaken by Correos to collaborate in the diffusion of images of emblematic places and monuments through postal items.

Gallery

File:Pontevedra capital Moneda Plata Serie capitales de provincia. Pontevedra-La Peregrina.jpg, Silver coin belonging to the Spain Capitals of Province series, which was released in 2011 File:Pontevedra capital Matasellos Iglesia La Peregrina (símbolo de la ciudad).jpg, Correos commemorative postmark released in 2014 File:Pontevedra Capital La Peregrina Figura de la Fe.jpg, Figure of Faith in the centre of the split gable and twin towers File:Imaxe en Pontevedra Galiza.jpg, Pilgrim Virgin in a niche on the church façade File:Pontevedra Galicia Estatua.jpg, Statue in the atrium File:Pontevedra-Igrexa da peregrina.jpg, Side façade of the church File:Pontevedra Capital Fuente de la Peregrina.jpg, Fountain at the entrance to the church File:Pontevedra Santuario de la Peregrina altar785.JPG, Detail of the main altar File:Pontevedra-La Peregrina.jpg, The two towers belonging to the church File:Pontevedra-La Peregrina-porta.jpg, Main entrance to the temple File:Capilla Virgen Peregrina.jpg, View of the church with the new lighting File:Pontevedra-La Peregrina34.jpg, Detail of the interior of the church File:Pontevedra-Luces de fiesta (14737215409).jpg, Lights during the city's festivities File:Enrique Campo, A Peregrina (1908).jpg, The church in 1908, par Enrique Campo

References

Bibliography

* * * * *