Let's end our tour of Málaga with a visit to two unique religious sites, both dealing with burials. The first is a museum featuring processional floats.
The Real Hermandad de Nuestro Padre Jesus Del Santo Sepulcro museum
Many Andalusian towns stage elaborate religious processions complete with huge floats that require sometimes hundreds of bearers. Most display these in churches when not in use. In Málaga, however, the brotherhoods who support these floats often have their own "casas" to display their "thrones." The most elaborate of these museums which holds two spectacular floats is near Málaga's cathedral. The smaller float is pictured above with its pyramid base rising above wood reliefs of the apostles.
Here's a silver float that takes over 200 bearers and was so wide that the parade route had to be changed when it was first put into service in 1952. Many more pictures of these floats are available at our overflow page. To visit,
click here.
Santuario de la Virgen de la Victoria
The next site looks like a simple church built on the site where the Christians made their camp as they assaulted the Málaga fortress. It's called the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Victory (Santuario de la Virgen de la Victoria.) This Victoria's secret is one of the most elaborate burial crypts in all of Spain. When Málaga surrendered, the Catholic Kings entered behind a poly-chromed wood icon of Mary holding Jesus on her left knee. Minimos monks (probably so called because they fasted their whole lives) were given custody of the icon and built a monastery (now used as a hospital) at this spot. The above church building is from 1700.
Inside the nave is an almost austere neo-baroque exercise in restraint. However, the crypt below is almost high camp. The Counts of Buenavista are buried here. While alive, they used their elaborate palace that now houses Picasso's museum. Here they lie surrounded by macabre art.
The Counts must have seen everything in black and white. At least they do now.
Most statues are in relief except for these above the caskets of the countess and...
...her count.
Above are drums and scythes. We have lots more pictures of the crypt, the high Baroque camarin above it, and the austere nave posted on our overflow page. Check them out
by clicking here.
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For more pictures on the Crypt,
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For more pictures of the religious floats carried during Holy Week,
click here.
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