It’s that time of year once again to chose a pilgrimage site when booking your SPAIN HOLIDAY RENTALS and you have decided on the Basilica de Nuestra Senora del Pilar situated in the heart of Zaragoza. This Basilica became an important pilgrimage site when an ancient pillar is believed to have been given by the Virgin Mary to Saint James on this site. What makes this interesting is that at the time the pillar was believed to have been passed to Saint James the Virgin Mary was living in Jerusalem and the only apparition before her assumption.

As the legend goes the first church dedicated to the Virgin Mary was built by Saint James as instructed by the Virgin herself. When she gave the pillar, which was made of jasper, to Saint James she also gave him a statue of herself. This gift resulted in the churches name: “Our Lady of the Pillar”.

Before the cathedral was built on this site there were a number of churches in the immediate area. The church you see today was designed by Felipe Sanchez y Herrera. During the 18th century it was reconstructed by Ventura Rodriguez who helped to preserve the home. In the early part of the 20th century the towers were finally finished, signalling completion of construction on the cathedral.

The Basilica de Nuestra Senora del Pilar, also known as “El Pilar”, has been the focus of some extremely important people throughout history when it opened its doors for the pilgrims. The list of visitors who came to pray and or pay homage includes Saints Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross and Ignatius Loyola. The list even includes royalty as in all the Kings and Queens of Spain along with a pope. Children, after their first communion, find their way here to El Pilar which over the years has become a tradition.

For a day out from your SPAIN HOLIDAY RENTALS why not do as the pilgrims do: stop here at the Lady of the Pillar on your way to Santiago de Compostela to visit the tomb of Saint James who the way is named after. This visitation has made El Pilar the second visited pilgrimage site, behind Santiago de Compostela, in all of Spain. Just think of the thousands of pilgrims who make this journey every year to get a glimpse of this small statue of the Virgin much even less have the opportunity to kiss it. It’s amazing this fifteen inch tall statue, made of wood, can pull so strongly on the heart strings of the religious world.

Author's Bio: 

Porsche is an avid traveller throughout the holiday region of Spain. She loves writing about all of those special hideaways we all would love to find so keep reading about all of her travels and things to do in this lovely country. At present she is travelling and writing for Akilar.com and telling you just why you should book your dream Spain Holiday Rentals home from the Owners Direct.