The Virxe da Barca Sanctuary, which can be reached by taking the route of the Camino de Santiago from Finisterre and Muxia, is located in the Coruñesa town of Muxia, is linked to the “Supposed appearance”, from the Virgin Mary to the Apostle Santiago, when he was in Hispania on a mission of evangelization and spreading the word of God, in the confines of the earth known until then as the “Finis Terrae”, to encourage him and announce that he would return to Jerusalem, although the results of it had not been very satisfactory, apparently.
This “apparition” of the Virgin Mary took place on a Stone Boat, whose remains “appear” and we can see them next to the Sanctuary, in the so-called “Pedra de Abalar” (Boat), “Pedra de Os Cadris” (Sail), Pedras dos Namorados” and the Pedra de o Temón” (Timon). The belief that was transmitted over time is that these miraculous stones have healing and divination properties.
This legend supposed the attraction of the pilgrims until this Sanctuary that, after his trip to the Camino de Santiago with organized trip and after their arrival at the Cathedral of Santiago, they later went to Finisterre and Muxia. This pilgrimage had its period of maximum splendor in the XNUMXth century. On the way to Finisterre and Muxia to see the Sanctuary of the Virxe da barca you can get the Certificate of “La Fisterrana and La Muxiana “
It is believed that as early as the XNUMXth century, a first hermitage existed and that, later, different constructions and larger works were being built, starting in the XNUMXth century, ending the works in the XNUMXth century, with the construction of the two towers from the Sanctuary of the Virxe da barca.
Unfortunately, at Christmas 2013, a fire broke out in the Sanctuary that destroyed practically all of it, including the fabulous Baroque altarpiece that was inside. Today, once rebuilt, we can once again enjoy the Sanctuary for the enjoyment of pilgrims and visitors.
It is worth noting the Pilgrimage that is held every year on the second Sunday in September, not before the 9th or later than September 15, and which brings together thousands of pilgrims.
Likewise, apparently, there used to be the so-called Fuente da Pel, a place where pilgrims washed before arriving at the Sanctuary, where they arrived through the Camino da Pel, something similar to what pilgrims did in Lavacolla in their Way from Sarria to Santiago, before the entrance to the Cathedral of Santiago.
As a curiosity, on an imposing viewpoint, in the vicinity of the Sanctuary there is a sculpture “A Ferida”, which recalls the sinking of the ship “Prestige” and which caused an oil slick in the area, causing significant damage to the ecosystem of the area.
