Basílica Menor Nuestra Senora de la Merced - Jerez de la Frontera - Andalusia

The Basilica de la Merced is part of the Monastery of La Merced de Jerez de la Frontera, which belongs to the Mercedarian brothers.

The first exact reference we know about the monastery dates back to 1348 when a primitive building already existed.

Besides an outstanding array of altarpieces, sculptures, liturgical elements and ornaments , it stands out as the burial place of the dictator Miguel Primo de Rivera in the Riquelme Chapel.

The church has a replica of the Holy Shroud that arrived in 1572.

There are several legends about the origin of the Mercedarian faith in Jerez. The most popular tells that the foundation of the monastery of La Merced in the city of Jerez was laid on land where there used to be a tile factory, whose kiln where bricks and tiles were baked still exists. When they were trying to tear it down to make the foundations of the monastery, they reportedly came across a cavity with a small alcove containing the statue of the Virgin, blackened by the smoke from the tile factory.

Willem Vandenameele