Caravaca de la Cruz is a magical place. It is one of only five Holy Cities in the entire world (the others being Jerusalem, Rome, and the other two, which are in Spain, Santo Toribio de Liebana and Santiago de Compostela). Caravaca de la Cruz contains a castle built high on the hill, within which is the Sanctuary de la Vera Cruz church, and held within that is The Vera Cruz. The Vera Cruz is the true cross, a relic of the Lignum Cross, the wooden cross on which Christ was crucified.

Legend has it that in 1232 the Arab ruler Abu Zeid had besieged Caravaca and the townsfolk had taken sanctuary within the castle. The invading Arabs broke through and were about to slay the Christians sheltering within. The priest begged Abu Zeid that mass could be said before they were put to death, a last request that the Arab ruler agreed to. But the priest could not find a cross, and without a cross mass could not be said. The Arabs, believing this to be just a ploy were about to slay the Christians when through one of the windows 2 angels flew in, holding a wooden cross between them. This miracle converted the Arab ruler to Christianity and saved the people of Caravaca from a certain death.

The 15th century castle contains the church that since 1617 has contained The Vera Cruz. It is a place of both pilgrimages for the faithful and for coach loads of tourists. The actual Vera Cruz cross itself is still used in each and every mass, the priest offering it to each person to either kiss or to have placed on their cheek. It is a very moving experience. The actual wooden Vera Cruz cross is encased in a jewel encrusted gold double cross, and outside of times of mass the Vera Cruz cross can be viewed in a small side chamber within the church.

In 1998 the Pope conceded a Jubilee Year to Caravaca de la Cruz, and hence authorised Caravaca de la Cruz to celebrate a Perpetual Jubilee, a Holy Year every 7 years in perpetuum at the Sanctuary of the Vera Cruz. This year, 2010, is a Jubilee Year.

The Sanctuary de la Vera Cruz church itself is beautiful, located high on the hill and protected by the castle walls. Apart from religious tourists Caravaca de la Cruz also attracts those interested in the architecture of churches and castles as well. A particular feature of the church is its red Cehegin marble frontage, which represents an Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The inside of the church is stunning, simply stunning, breathtaking even.

Away from the castle itself another important site is the Shrine of the Santa Cruz. Here the Vera Cruz is ritually dipped in the spring water every 3rd May during the celebrations in honour of the Holy Sacrament and True Cross, now declared of International Tourist Interest. When the Vera Cruz is in the water the massed throngs of people all try to dip their fingers into the water at the same moment, again another moving experience. Another episode in these popular festivities is the Festival of the Caballos del Vino (horses of the wine). This is in commemoration of a dramatic 13th century event. On this date, the Christians besieged in the fortress by the invading Arabs managed to break out to look for water. But they did not find any water. What they found instead were the Arab’s horses, which they galloped back on after filling the saddlebags with wine instead. So every year since the mid-16th century this Holy City has been invaded by horses decked out in embroidered blankets, clambering up the steep slopes up to the castle carrying wine to be blessed in the Sanctuary. The locals are dressed in Moors and Christian costumes to accompany the horses. At the 16th century Uribe Palace you can visit the Festival Museum to experience the event for yourself, whatever the date of your visit.

Caravaca de la Cruz has numerous other beautiful and significant buildings and for lovers of rural tourism, activity tourism, architecture, famous castles and famous churches, let alone the colourful festivals and of course the magic of a Holy City with the True Cross, the Vera Cruz, Caravaca de la Cruz is a paradise. Caravaca de la Cruz is most certainly on the tourist map! And yet it retains a feeling of being a 'secret place' too oddly enough. 

Caravaca de la Cruz is inland, about 1 hours drive west of Murcia city, which will place it about 45 minutes drive away from the new airport being built at Corvera (it is currently about 1½ hours drive from San Javier airport and about 1¾ hours drive from Alicante airport).

Cavaraca de la Cruz is most definitely ‘true Spain’. We make it a crucial part of our ‘Living the Good Life’ portfolio for a number of reasons, some purely financial, some lifestyle and some holistic. For those wishing to find ‘real Spain’, either to live there, as an alternative investment property or as an alternative rental property this has to be a contender. This is a place of international and national pilgrimage with tourists from all over the world. There is a new airport being opened in 2011 within approx. 45 minutes drive. 2010 is a Jubilee Year when no doubt every tourist bed will be fully booked for miles around. Add these things together and the outlook for property prices set to rise looks promising. Then consider that each year on the 3rd May thousands of people flock here. Even though this is a real Spanish gem, at the moment it is a bit too inland for most northern European property owners and at the moment a bit too far from the nearest airport (which is maybe why properties here are relatively inexpensive). But what after the new airport 45 minutes away has opened, and in the Jubilee Year of 2010? As an alternative to the usual beachside or golf course property, for those interested in this type of location, Caravaca de la Cruz has a lot to offer.

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