Seville is a city that breathes art and spirituality in every corner, and few symbols
better represent this union than the Virgin of the Kings, patron saint of Seville and its
Archdiocese. This Marian image is not only an artistic treasure, but also the heart of
a tradition that has been beating strongly among Sevillians for centuries.
An image with a Sevillian soul
La Virgen de los Reyes is a Gothic carving from the 13th century, wrapped in a halo
of legend. According to tradition, it was a gift from King Ferdinand himself, conqueror
of Seville in 1248, who had it brought from northern Europe or had it carved
expressly. The monarch’s devotion to the Virgin was such that he asked to be buried
at her feet. Today, his incorrupt body rests very close to her.
The image shows Mary with the Child Jesus in her arms, both richly dressed with
gold embroidered mantles, which are changed throughout the year according to
liturgical festivities. Her serene and close face has comforted generations of
Sevillians, who every August 15 (Assumption Day) accompany her in her annual
procession, one of the most emotional days of the Sevillian calendar.
A jewel box of faith and tradition
The Virgen de los Reyes treasures an impressive trousseau of crowns, mantles and
jewels, fruit of centuries of donations and promises fulfilled by grateful faithful.
Among them stands out her crown, made in 1904 for her canonical coronation, a
delicate work of goldsmithing that shines with its own light. It also has historical
mantles such as castles and lions, or embroidered in gold and rhinestones for great
solemnities.
The Virgin’s trousseau is guarded by her own brotherhood, founded in 1946, which
keeps the devotion alive and organizes every year the worship and events in her
honor.
Curiosities and cultural legacy
Few know that the Virgen de los Reyes was the first image canonically crowned in
Seville, in 1904, an event that gathered thousands of people in the Cathedral and
was even national news. Since then, August 15 has become a real city date: there
are flowers, bells ringing, and an emotion that is difficult to describe.
Moreover, devotion to the Virgin is not limited to Seville capital. Many towns in the
province also consider her their protector, and some localities celebrate pilgrimages
or cults in her honor. Her figure has also inspired poets, artists and musicians from
Seville over the centuries.
In the hardest years of recent history (wars, epidemics, floods) there were many
times that Sevillians turned to the Virgin as a spiritual refuge. Even during the Civil
War, it was guarded with special zeal to avoid any damage.
Where to find it?
This jewel of the Sevillian faith is located in its Royal Chapel inside the Cathedral of
Seville, a space full of history, where the remains of Saint Ferdinand and other
Castilian monarchs rest. It is a place that breathes silence, recollection and devotion,
framed by the Gothic grandeur of the cathedral.
The Royal Chapel is located next to the transept, right next to the main altar, and can
be visited during the Cathedral’s tourist schedule. Many visitors are surprised by the artistic richness of the place… and by the deep peace that one breathes there.
Experience the Cathedral of Seville as never before
If you want to discover more secrets of the Virgen de los Reyes, its chapel and the
Cathedral of Seville itself, we invite you to a unique plan: our night tours of the
Cathedral on Mondays and Fridays, where, thanks to a spectacular exclusive
videomapping on the history of the temple, you will live a magical experience that
unites art, history and technology.
A different way to feel Seville… illuminated by history.
