Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Consolación

The origins of the Sanctuary are to be found at the beginning of the 16th century, when Antonio Barrados was granted permission to build a chapel dedicated to the Virgen de Consolación, and whose titular image was donated by the Convento de Nuestra Señora de la Antigua. On 31 March 1561, the shrine passed into the hands of the order of the Padres Mínimos, and from that date the construction of the convent and the church began.

The popularity of the miracles and intercessions of the Virgen de Consolación began to extend throughout Andalusia, particularly amongst sailors travelling to the Americas, and who came to this sanctuary to ask for the protection of the Virgin or to give thanks for having had a good crossing. The trousseau of the Virgin includes offerings and model boats, such as the Nao de Oro, the most valuable votive offering of all those received and which was donated by Rodrigo de Salinas in 1579.

The Church of Nuestra Señora de Consolación, in Utrera, is in the classic Baroque style of the early 17th century, a single nave with transept, walls of brick and mortar and pillared supports. The main chapel is a square, the wooden coffered ceiling is decorated with Mudéjar lattices. The whole front of the nave is covered by a great Baroque altarpiece centred on the image of the Virgen de Consolación, “the one of the Barquito”, the Patron Saint of Utrera. The Choir is at the foot of the nave, over coffered wooden beams resting on white marble columns. The square tower in two sections is located to the side of the main façade, and is simply decorated, with a belfry in the upper section, open on all four sides with semicircular arches and topped with a tiled spire.

The portal at the feet is in chalky stone in two sections, featuring sculptures carved by Alonso Álvarez de Albarrán in 1635. The Gate of the Gospel is without carving and that of the Epistle is blocked off.