The La Pinilla Vía Crucis.

El Calvario de La Pinilla.

La Pinilla is a hamlet located mid-way between Las Palas and the main intersecting road which leads between Mazarrón and Alhama de Murcia. Although it´s a sleepy little village now, it has a surprisingly interesting history. To read more, click History of La Pinilla

One location in La Pinilla which provides a good excuse for a walk up a hill is the Vía Crucis.

This is a charming little Vía Crucis and walk which is little known outside of the immediate village community.

Driving into the village from Las Palas, a hilltop to the left of the village sports a white dome, which looks a little like a mosque, tucked amongst the trees on the hillside, but driving behind the hunters bar in the highstreet and then left, there is a track leading off up the hillside.

It´s probably a kilometre from the bottom of the track, first the road is open, then as it starts to climb, lined by trees as it nears the top of the hill.

The Stations of the cross

Set up alongside the road are the stations of the cross, some damaged by time, but each representing a stage in the passion of Christ:

Jesus is condemned to death

Jesus accepts the burden of the cross

Jesus falls for the first time

Jesus meets his mother, Mary

Simon helps Jesus to shoulder his burden

The feet of Jesus are washed

Jesus falls for the second time

Jesus urges the daughters of Jerusalemnot to cry for him

Jesus falls for the third time

Jesus is stripped of his garments

Jesus is nailed to the cross

Jesus dies on the cross

Jesus in the arms of his mother

Jesus in the tomb

Jesus arisen

At the top, on the Cumbre del Monte de Los Cabecicos,  is the Calvery, and a small domed chapel with a figure of the Virgen inside, but what makes the walk so worthwhile are the stunning views out across the surrounding countryside, with the Sierras of Carrascoy and Algarrobo in the background.

During the winter the road can get a bit cut up by the rains, but come spring it´s levelled, ready for the annual Romería at the beginning of May in which the villagers carry the image of la Virgen del Fátima from the church in the village below to the top.

The structure which is here at the moment dates from 1992 and was built to replace the simple wooden cross which used to be in this location, destroyed during the Civil war.

It´s a really calming location, and a great little walk for Camposol residents, or those on Condado de Alhama,  being just a very short drive away.

There´s a bar at the bottom selling drinks and tapas as well!

Where is the Vía Crucis of La Pinilla?

Click for map, La Pinilla, Fuente Álamo