We went for a bike ride in the hills behind Lorca. Although we had heard and read about the damage caused by the earthquake to buildings in and around Lorca we weren´t prepared for the damage we saw. The cliffs on the hillside above a dry river bed have been dislodged and huge boulders now litter the river bed and flat land and large scars can be seen high up on the hills. I suppose the same damage can be seen in other areas and it was lucky that so few people were killed at the time.
La Bastida (Archaeological Site)
Approximately 6km from Totana there is an archaeological site. This was a hilltop village of about 800 inhabitants living in 200 to 300 houses and was built about 1,650 - 11,000 years BC. People were buried in pots and many of these have been excavated. These, and other artefacts, can be seen in the Centro Interpretation La Bastida de Totana.
 |
| Archaeological site La Bastida |
Approximately 7km from the camperstop is the Santuario de La Santa. The article below has been translated from Spanish. As well as the Santuario the complex has now been renovated to include a hotel with restaurant and some rural houses.
 |
| Santuario de La Santa |
The origin of the shrine dates from the second half of the thirteenth century documents of the fourteenth century there where already there are reports of the existence of the small sanctuary, built by the Knights of the Order of Santiago, on a land donated by King Alfonso X D. Wise Pelayo Perez - Master of the Order of Santiago - thanks given in return for land terms and that the Order possessed. On December 10 the Santiaguista take possession of Aledo and Totana, the day commemorating the death of Eulalia of Mérida, whose shrine is named, following the custom of consecrating the holy event of the day.
The current sanctuary was built with alms of the faithful in 1574. The cult of Santa was almost extinct, only recalling the existence of a small center of devotion. According to C. Gutierrez, at this time includes the minutes of the Council a report stated that "... there had been a hermit who for reasons of war left the place ..." Then came a man named Alonso de Murcia settling there, he and his son gave wine for charity. Later the place became the property of an individual, Ginés Arnedo, who decided not to follow the custom established by his predecessors. In view of this the town was fined and forced him to "maintain the delivery of wine to which it requested." Soon the council is interested in the shrine as a place of worship and promotes its first restoration. In 1498 described as "... a good ship with good walls and wooden deck and roof top and I date good lock doors and iron ...".
Is also a description of the saint: "... the round, had a green skirt executioners, and a good lienço shirt, and two good hits of Paris, and a black beads, and found he had a small purple robe London guarnesçido with silk, a corset with sleeves and a brown belt ...".
In the last third of the S. XVI devotion to the Holy grows, believe with miraculous powers, healing the sick and maimed who drink water from the fountain in front of the chapel, which was attributed healing properties.
The Tuscan-style church is composed of a rectangular nave, the roof is a gable-roofed wood and coffered ceiling. Inside, the altarpiece is the work of Jerome Caballao and is dated 1717.
In S. XVIII were undertaken various reforms to expand the chapel with a body and a dressing room baroque octagonal building built over the grotto where tradition identifies as the place where the saint appeared, where stood the first altar.
The walls are covered with paintings dating back to 1624, and allude to the life and miracles of the saint, Jesus Christ and of the Franciscans. The work of approximately 200 square meters, with 48 scenes divided into two bands, make a total of 216 leading figures attributed to Fray Antonio Bernon, who express order of the inspector of the Order of Santiago D. Diego Ramirez de Arellano, - seeing that the priest informed him of the many miracles that the "blessed Santa Eulalia has done and is doing" - mandates that such wonders that appear to be authentic to be painted on the walls of the church but very strongly requests are made by painter "that tastes good to" take care and be represented in all decency, thereby, causing the devotion of the faithful - "and how are you not to laugh often lead paint, is spent nescessario with it what Quenta and rracon "-. The paintings are framed in two ridges with grotesque and shields of Spain, Order of Santiago, Totana, Aledo, Murcia, Cartagena, Lorca and Caravaca Yecla. The line of separation between the fringes of the wall is drawn by the Franciscan cord. Altarpiece |  Coffered ceiling of the interior of the Sanctuary |
Snow Wells
In the mountains near to the top of EVA (where the installation are) there are some old snow wells. One of these has been restored.
 |
| Snow well and walking group in the mountains |
