Ermita Virgen de los Remedios

Ermita de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios is a small chapel on the edge of Iznalloz, a town in the province of Granada, in the Montes Orientales region of Andalusia. It sits along the road connecting Iznalloz to the neighboring village of Deifontes, just a short walk from the town center, and remains one of the enduring symbols of local religious tradition.

Where does the chapel come from?

The hermitage was most likely built in the 17th century, according to local tradition using leftover materials from the construction of the nearby parish church. The earliest written record confirming its existence dates back to the late 19th century, from an account by the Gómez-Moreno researchers who visited Iznalloz. A popular legend also explains the origin of the devotion: a shepherd or muleteer is said to have found a small figure of the Virgin at this very spot, which locals took as a sign to build a shrine there.

What will you see on site?

The chapel has the modest, single-nave layout typical of rural hermitages in the region — no grand architectural ambitions, but a strong sense of place shaped by generations of local visitors. Inside is kept the image of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, the patroness of Iznalloz, venerated with particular devotion during the town's annual festivities. Surrounded by the olive groves characteristic of the Montes Orientales, the chapel's quiet setting on the outskirts of town makes for an unhurried, crowd-free visit.

When is the best time to visit?

The liveliest moment of the year comes during the patron saint festivities, held in the second-to-last week of August in honor of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios — the chapel then becomes the focal point of both religious and popular celebrations. Visitors looking for a quieter experience can come at any other time of year, when the hermitage is usually only viewable from the outside, and the surrounding countryside invites a walk through the region's typical olive-growing landscape.

How to get there and what else is nearby?

Iznalloz lies about 35 km north of Granada, along the route connecting the city to Jaén, making it an easy stop from towns throughout the area. After visiting the chapel, it's worth heading into the center of Iznalloz to see the parish church of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores, the small Roman bridge over the Cubillas river, and the remains of the old castle known as Castillo de los Almendros — the town's name itself references this "castle of the almond trees in bloom." Nearby, in the Sierra Arana massif, lies the Cueva del Agua, a cave with underground lakes and rock formations dating back to the Jurassic period, as well as the El Sotillo recreational area.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the chapel located? On the outskirts of Iznalloz, along the road to Deifontes, in the province of Granada, in the Montes Orientales region.

Who is the chapel dedicated to? Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, the patroness of Iznalloz, whose devotion dates back to the late 17th century.

Can you go inside? The chapel is occasionally open, mainly during the patron saint festivities; outside that period it is usually only accessible from the outside.

When is the best time to experience it? During the second-to-last week of August, when the patron saint festival honoring Nuestra Señora de los Remedios turns the hermitage into the center of local celebrations.