Basílica de la Vera Cruz de Caravaca

Standing on a hill overlooking the town, the Basílica de la Vera Cruz is the most important religious monument in Caravaca and a key pilgrimage site in the Region of Murcia. Built around a medieval fortress, the basilica is known for housing a relic of the True Cross (Vera Cruz) – believed to be a fragment of the cross on which Jesus was crucified – which gives the town its name.

The current Baroque façade dates to the 18th century, while the inner chapel contains the relic in a richly decorated sanctuary. The site is central to Caravaca’s spiritual life and plays a major role in the annual Fiestas de la Santísima y Vera Cruz, attracting pilgrims and visitors throughout the year.

It also marks the finish areaof the famous Caballos del Vino race, where elaborately adorned horses run up the hill leading to the basilica as part of the festivities each May.