Legend has it that a shepherd named Finardo lost one of his goats after eating poisonous herbs. Afraid of the owner’s reprisals, he cried out to the Virgin in despair, and she appeared to him and revived the animal. In return, she told him to ask the neighbors of Candeleda (Ávila) to build a temple there in her honor. This is, according to tradition, the origin of the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Chilla, a church of simple architecture but enviable location built between the fourteenth and eighteenth centuries at the foot of the Sierra de Gredos.
The Sanctuary of the Virgin of Chilla is on the outskirts of Candeleda (two hours from Madrid), spanning about seven kilometers along a winding country road. Access to the site is free and open to the public. After parking the car, we begin the visit following the indications of the Paseo del Agua, a route filled with blooming gardens and stone fountains. One of the first stops, named the Water Corner, is dedicated to fellow devotee Nemesio Rodríguez, “who worked so much to ensure that this gift of nature could be enjoyed in all places of Chilla.”
We descend the stairs that lead to the Garden of the South, full of picnic areas. After climbing back up and passing the restrooms, we will reach the Stone of the Apparitions, where the Virgin allegedly appeared to the shepherd, surrounded by an open-air amphitheater and a fountain with three spouts. Next to it stands the Ash Tree of the Virgin of Chilla, which with its 18.2 meters in height and a diameter of 183 centimeters is listed among Castilla y León’s singular specimens. Very close we will see the tourist apartments (El Refugio de Chilla) where one can stay within the grounds.
The visit
The Sanctuary of the Virgin of Chilla is on the outskirts of Candeleda (two hours from Madrid), spanning about seven kilometers along a winding local road. Access to the site is free and open to the public. After parking, we begin the visit following the indications of the Paseo del Agua, a path filled with blooming gardens and stone fountains. One of the first stops, dubbed the Water Corner, is dedicated to the fellow devotee Nemesio Rodríguez, “who worked so much to make this gift of nature accessible to all places of Chilla.”
We descend the stairs leading to the Garden of the South, full of picnic areas. After climbing back up and passing the restrooms, we will reach the Stone of the Apparitions, where the Virgin is said to have appeared to the shepherd, surrounded by an open-air amphitheater and a fountain with three spouts. Beside it rises the Ash Tree of the Virgin of Chilla, which at 18.2 meters tall and a diameter of 183 centimeters is listed among Castilla y León’s singular specimens. Very close you will see the tourist apartments (El Refugio de Chilla) where one can stay inside the grounds.
