El Rocío is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Spain, located in the province of Huelva, Andalusia, in southern Spain near the beaches and resorts.
It is a small village, which maintains originality in its buildings and streets, located next to the well-known and important Doñana Natural Park, in Andalusia.
We visited this small village on a summer afternoon on a trip along the Spanish coast. Fortunately, it wasn’t one of the hottest days, because despite being located near the coast, it is a quite warm area.
We were captivated by all the images we obtained of the village, its streets still in the dirt and the importance of its chapel. For this reason, we came to breathe in the culture and atmosphere of this place.
Nossa Senhora do Rocío Santuary
El Rocío is known for its sanctuary and devotion to its saint. Its church occupies a central role in the village, being the largest building.
The history of the sanctuary dates back to the 13th century, when, according to legend, a hunter found an image of the Virgin Mary in a tree in the Las Rocinas area. Since then, the cult of the Virgin of Rocío has spread and consolidated over the centuries.
The main celebration in El Rocío is the Romería del Rocío, a pilgrimage that attracts hundreds of thousands of devotees, especially at Pentecost (50 days after Easter Sunday). During this celebration, brotherhoods from all over Andalusia, in traditional costumes, travel on horseback, in carriages or on foot towards the sanctuary.
In 2023, around one million people participated in the Romaria del Rocío, that demonstrates its grandeur.
What to visit in El Rocío
Contrary to what we did, we recommend that you start the tour of this small village in the morning. After parking, we headed towards the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Rocío, admiring the lake nearby, which is unfortunately dry.
The church is quite large and recently renovated. Next to the church, is a building where candles are offered to Our Lady.
Afterwards, we took a walk through the various streets, observing the peculiar architecture of the various houses, always white. Many of them were closed. Here, the main means of transport is horseback, so there are almost no cars on the main streets of this village.
We also went to enjoy typical Andalusian food in one of the many open restaurants. For those unfamiliar with the Andalusian tradition, don’t be surprised by the amount of paper on the floor. It is customary to clean tables to the floor and if you see a lot of paper on the floor, it is a sign that the restaurant has served many meals.
What to visit near El Rocío
El Rocío is located near the La Rocina Visitor Center, one of the gateways to Doñana National Park. It is also located close to the beaches and several campsites located in the pine forests.
The closest city, which we have already visited at other times, is the city of Huelva. This could be the city where you stay and enjoy a day trip to visit El Rocío.
Map with location and main accommodations
On the following map, locate El Rocío and all nearby towns. You can still find the main accommodations.
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Hotels
To find the best hotel stays use Booking. It is one of the best websites for booking stays, always with promotions on some destinations. The reliability and ease of booking and cancelling make it even the most popular.
Flights
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Did you like El Rocio? Do you feel like visiting it? Visit also the Andalucia. You can read other articles about it.
- El Rocío: A Charming Andalusian Village Frozen in Time
- Explore Malaga: the vibrant city of the Costa del Sol
- Huelva: one day trip
- Caminito del Rey – The radical experience in Spain
- Andalusia tour – a tour in southern Spain
- Setenil de las Bodegas: the under rocks Andalusian village
- Ronda, the Andalusian city that is known for its bridge
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