Ermita del Humilladero

What It Is

The chapel where pilgrims arriving at Guadalupe from the north used to pray, also called the Santa Cruz. It was built in the 15th century as an oratory for them, following the same patterns as the Mudéjar shrine in the cloister of the monastery: a square plan, moulded brick and Gothic decoration on its four faces. It has been renovated several times, but keeps its original appearance. It has been a national monument since 1931 and a Site of Cultural Interest.

Illustrious pilgrims passed this way, and Extremadura Tourism recalls one: Miguel de Cervantes, who came to Guadalupe to offer the Virgin the chains of his captivity in Algiers.

What to See and Do

The visit is short: walk round the shrine, look at the carved brick on each face and step out onto the nearby viewpoint, from which you have the village and the Royal Monastery below, among the sierras. Around it there is a wood of oaks, pines and chestnuts with three paths, according to the official listing, and the last stretch of the Alfonso Onceno trail also comes down this way, descending from the Collado de la Arena among Pyrenean oaks to the Humilladero before reaching Guadalupe. If you want to walk a while, ask at the tourist office about those paths; the listing does not give their distances.

Getting There

It stands on the Altamiras hill, about 4 km from Guadalupe along the road to Navalmoral de la Mata. By car it is five minutes. It has no published visiting hours or admission: it is a shrine seen from outside. Guadalupe tourist office answers on 927 15 41 28 and 675 28 69 87, and at [email protected].

When to Go

All year. It combines well with a visit to the old town: drive up here, look at the village from above and then go down to the walk through the Puebla to see up close what you have seen from the viewpoint. With children it is a short, free stop.