The Marian Route of the Guadalhorce Valley includes sanctuaries in each of the villages of the region:
In ALMOGÍA we go into the proximity of the parochial temple, elevated on the site of the old Moorish mosque, in honor of the patron saint of Almogía, Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (Our Lady of Assumption). It was built in the sixteenth century.
In COÍN we find the Convent of Santa María de la Encarnación. This building housed the community subject to the rule of Santa Clara de Asís, and has earned the protection as a Cultural Asset.
We continue the route in this municipality until reaching the Church of San Juan Bautista, built with part of the remains of the Muslim castle. In this church one can admire two singular pieces: the sculpture of Nuestra Señora de los Angeles (Our Lady of the Angels) – a work of art from the sixteenth century, of great artistic quality – and the venerated image of the Virgen de la Fuensanta, patron saint of the village, a work only 11 centimeters tall, which is transferred each month of May to the Hermitage of la Fuensanta, where it remains until the first weekend of June. This chapel is located in the outskirts of town on the way to Monda.
In ALHAURÍN EL GRANDE, we find the Church of la Encarnación, built on the remains of the old Muslim mosque, in which Nuestra Señora de Gracia, patroness of Alhaurín el Grande, occupies the most prominent part of the church´s apse.
In CÁRTAMA, the highlight is the Chapel of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, dedicated to the worship of Our Lady of Remedies, patron saint of the town, whose image is transferred from San Pedro Church each first Sunday of June, remaining there until the 23rd of April of the following year. It is located in Cerro de la Virgen. The always climbing road that leads to the chapel, offers an authentic natural viewpoint from where one can enjoy one of the best panoramic views of the Guadalhorce Valley. The chapel has been declared a National Cultural Asset.
In PIZARRA, the Chapel of la Fuensanta, for worship of Our Lady of la Fuensanta, patroness of the town, is built on the ruins of an old Mozarabic cave church, located in a place of incredible beauty, offering a natural view point with wonderful panoramic views of the valley, its extensive areas of citrus groves and of the bridges of the River Guadalhorce.
In ÁLORA, the Franciscan Convent of Our Lady of the Flowers keeps the Virgin of the Flowers, co-patron saint of the village together with the Virgin of la Cabeza. This temple and the church of San Juan Bautista of Coín are the largest in the diocese of Málaga. It is located on the outskirts, some 2 kilometers from the center of town, on the road to Carratraca.
In this town we also find the Church of Our Lady of the Incarnation (seventeenth century) with the image of a Dolorosa, anonymous from the seventeenth century and the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. Located at the Plaza Baja de la Despedía on top of what used to be the mosque of the castle. Finally the Chapel of Saint Brígida built in the sixteenth century is to be found in the neighborhood of the station. This is where they worship the image of Our Lady of the Cabeza, co-patron saint of Álora, together with the Virgin of the Flowers.
In VALLE DE ABDALAJIS, in the Parish Church of San Lorenzo, belonging initially to the Palacio del Conde de los Corbos (Palace of the Counts of Corbos), we find the Camarín (niche) of the patron saint of the valley, the Virgin of the Sorrows, object of true devotion and tradition, not only on behalf of the people from the village, but from the surrounding towns in the region. In this church we also find the image of Mother Petra of Saint Joseph, native of this village and blessed by the Pope John Paul II, the Virgin Carmen, Saint Rita and the niche of the Virgin del Rosario. Amongst the most distinguished images in the temple, apart from the already mentioned, is the altar of the Immaculate Virgin, where the celebrations of the Month of Mary take place.