The church of Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion in Molina de Segura
The original church was built on the banks of the River Segura after the miraculous appearance of the Virgin Mary
The Ermita de la Consolación is a modern church which stands on the western edge of the town of Molina de Segura, close to the River Segura as it makes its way towards the city of Murcia and on the road which leads to La Ribera, Torrealta and Alcantarilla.
The current church was built in 1976 using funds donated by the congregation, and was designed by Vicente Caraulet Casse. However, a previous building dedicated to Nuestra Señora de la Consolación, the patron of Molina, had stood since 1896 on the same spot, and this in turn was preceded by another place of worship which had existed since the mid-15th century, when the apparition of the Virgin Mary was adopted by the local population.
The legend of Nuestra Señora de la Consolación in Molina
The sculpture depicting the Saint is by Bernabé Gil and is based on the original, which was destroyed in 1936 at the outbreak of the Civil War. Local legend has it that this original was found leaning against a rock in the middle of the river, and that farm labourers salvaged it and placed it in the old parish church which had been built on top of the remains of the Moorish mosque. However, the next morning they found that the Virgin had disappeared, and she was later found again on the banks of the Segura.
Thinking they were the victims of a practical joke, the locals took her back to the church, but the same thing happened again, and this was taken as a sign that a place of worship should be built on the riverbank in her honour.
Of course it is hard to prove or disprove this version of events, but there is at least some evidence to support the theory in that old photographs of the original sculpture appear to indicate that it probably dated from the 14th or 15th century.
Close to the church is the “Casa del Barco”, which used to be the home of the man who ferried people across the river on his boat, known locally as the “Barco de Leandro”
The church of Nuestra Señora de la Consolación is included as a detour during the second stage of the Camino de Levante pilgrimage route which leads to the holy city of Caravaca de la Cruz, and which was promoted actively for the Jubilee Year held in 2017. This 26-kilometre stage of the route runs from the city of Murcia to Alguazas, following the river and then the old railway line.
Address: Calle Tirso de Molina s/n, Molina de Segura
Click for full information about the Molina de Segura municipality in English
