The hermitage of Santa María de Consolación is one of the oldest historical buildings of the Villa de Cartaya. The building dates from the sixteenth century, and according to later documents, was founded by an Indian originally from Cartaya. It is a good example of the Andalusian Baroque with Mudejar contributions.
The building faces east, and has the shape of an irregular rectangle with an almost square head. It consists of a ship of three naves separated by galleries of three arches of half point and supported by pillars of cruciform section. At the foot of the central nave there is a choir on a carpanel vault which is accessed by a staircase at the foot of the nave of the north.
The original building, which is basically the current one, except for some additions, is made of brick and masonry with a wooden roof. In 1755, as a consequence of the Lisbon Earthquake, the building was rebuilt, practically the same as the original one.
It is the Brotherhood of Our Lady of Consolation that is responsible for managing the operation of the hermitage. The visiting hours are the following:
Morning
From 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Late
July and August from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
September and October from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
From November to March from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
From April to June from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
