We recently started a series of posts about the most beautiful churches in each province. The first installment was about Jaén, and now it’s time for what could be the 4 best churches in Huelva province… with due respect to many others that would also deserve to be on this list.
El Rocío Hermitage, universal home of the Blanca Paloma
It is true that it is not exactly a church, but a hermitage, yet in a post about religious temples in the province of Huelva, the El Rocío Hermitage cannot be omitted… and it should also be in first place. It is located in the village of El Rocío, within the municipality of Almonte. It is universally known for housing the carving of the Virgen del Rocío, known as the Blanca Paloma. A multitudinous pilgrimage concludes here on Pentecost Monday weekend, with pilgrims coming from all over Andalusia and even Spain. The current temple is recent, from the mid-20th century, but it retains the hallmarks of many churches in Huelva: whitewashed, with a beautiful shell-shaped portal and a rich altar for its patroness.
Nuestra Señora de los Dolores, Aracena: Unbeatable Location
The Church of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores in Aracena (12th-15th centuries) owes much of its charm to its location: atop the town’s mountain, next to Aracena Castle. For this reason, the views from its side porch are fantastic. The bell tower stands out, with beautiful sebka sections, a decoration you will also find in Seville’s Giralda. Inside the mountain, incidentally, is the famous Gruta de las Maravillas (Cave of Wonders), which we discussed in this post.
Moguer, the Giralda of Huelva’s Churches
And speaking of the Giralda, let’s go to another of Huelva’s churches whose bell tower has been compared to the Giralda. This is the case of the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Granada in Moguer. The comparison was made by none other than Juan Ramón Jiménez, Moguer’s most illustrious native. And yet their styles differ, as this temple had to be practically rebuilt in the 18th century after the devastating Lisbon earthquake.
Niebla, another monument in a very monumental town
The Church of (also) Nuestra Señora de la Granada in Niebla is the crowning jewel of a very monumental town, which boasts magnificent walls and a grand castle. Therefore, the complex exudes history, as it was built on a Roman temple, vestiges of which still remain inside. It was also previously a mosque, and in fact, the qibla wall and the ablution courtyard are preserved. With origins in the 10th century, the predominant style is Gothic-Mudéjar, making the sum of all these styles an unmissable visit for art history lovers.
These are 4 churches in Huelva that demonstrate the potential and beauty of Andalusia’s westernmost province, and which we can help you discover with a tailor-made trip.
