Church of the Virgin of La Cabeza

The Church of the Virgen de la Cabeza in Capileira is a parish church in the Alpujarra town of Capileira, in the province of Granada, dedicated to the town’s patron saint. It is located in the town’s historic center, surrounded by traditional Alpujarra architecture, and serves both religious and devotional purposes for the local population. Available historical records trace its origins to the 16th century, shortly after the Christian conquest of the Kingdom of Granada, on the site of an ancient mosque, although some sources indicate later renovations or reconstructions, particularly in the 17th or 18th centuries. Therefore, the exact chronology should be understood as that of an ancient foundation with phases of rebuilding, rather than a building constructed in a single phase. In terms of its architectural style, it is a simple, single-nave church, following the rural parish model typical of the Alpujarra region. The sources consulted highlight, within the church, the image of the Virgin of La Cabeza, considered the patron saint of Capileira, and the continuity of her veneration over the centuries as a central element of the town’s religious and festive identity. Its heritage value lies in the connection between the church, the history of Christian repopulation, and the local devotional tradition, as well as its integration into the monumental and landscape complex of Capileira, one of the most representative sites in the Alpujarra region of Granada.