Church of Santa María la Blanca

The church of Santa María la Blanca stands in Ruidera as one of the main heritage landmarks of the town, in a nucleus that lives in close relationship with the water, the lagoons and the landscape of the Upper Guadiana.

Within a small-scale town, its presence articulates the urban center and acts as one of the most recognizable landmarks of the population, linking daily life with the religious and festive dimension of the place.

Its invocation is directly linked to the White Virgin, patron saint of Ruidera, The church, whose feast day is celebrated in August, is one of the most important celebrations in the municipality. This connection makes the church a central space within the local identity, not only because of its parish function, but also because of its symbolic weight within the shared memory of the town.

The current building was erected in 1958, replacing an older hermitage that was located in the current Plaza de Cervantes.

It is, therefore, a contemporary church that is part of the urban consolidation process of Ruidera in the 20th century.

Although it does not match the monumental scale of other historical temples in the region, its interest lies in its representative value within the village and in its status as a religious center for the population.

The visit allows it to be naturally integrated into the tour of the town, along with the King's House, the Gunpowder Factory and the various viewpoints overlooking the lagoons.