The Virgin of A Barca
The devotion to the Virgin of A Barca was so deep that at the beginning of the 18th century a small Gothic carving of the Saint was installed in the Sanctuary. One of its singularities is the position of the Child Jesus in her right hand, a detail that distinguishes it from other images of the time.
After a restoration in the 19th century that slightly modified her face, the original carving is today a treasure guarded with care. To ensure its integrity, it is kept safe “under seven keys.” It is precisely the fact that it is outside the Sanctuary itself – except for certain services and festivities – that led to its miraculous salvation from the devastating fire of 2013.
The devotion to this miracle-working Virgin continued over the years, reaching a great milestone in 1946. It was then that Pope Pius XII authorized the canonization of the Virgin of A Coruña, in reference to the Saint appearing to the Apostle James in Muxía. This is a privilege that few Virgins have achieved in Spain.
The image of the Saint advanced according to the times and for the 2014 Pilgrimage a 3D replica of the original carving was unveiled. It was created with the latest technology and currently presides over the Sanctuary, thus safeguarding the 19th-century figure.
To facilitate the approach of the thousands of faithful who visit the Sanctuary throughout the year, a niche for the Virgin of A Barca was inaugurated last year. Here there is a space for recollection closer to the image of the Saint.
