Chipiona

According to the geographers Strabo (Strabo, III, 1, 9) and Pomponius Mela (Mela, III, 4), of Ancient Greece and Rome respectively, a lighthouse existed at the mouth of the Guadalquivir River called Turris Caepionis. This was probably because it was built on the orders of the Roman Consul Quintus Servilius Caepion or his successors. The lighthouse marked a dangerous place for shipping and the opening of a navigable river, the Guadalquivir. Chipiona takes its name from the Roman Consul Caepion.

This area has also been identified as the site of the legendary Ars Gerionis, the tomb of Geryon, which stood at the end of a narrow cape that jutted into the sea, probably in what is now a reef known as the Stone of Salmedina, near Salmedina, or just Salmedina. These claims are based solely on the evidence of the literature and Roman archaeological findings dating from the second century B.C.

Legend relates that the disciples of St. Augustine in Africa, fleeing the invasion of the Vandals, came by sea to Chipiona with the image of the Virgin of Regla. Tombstones have been found near the Shrine of Our Lady of Regla from the time of the Visigoths. After the islamization of the Iberian Peninsula in 711, according to tradition, the hermits hid the image in a cistern about thirty paces from the citadel, now a monastery. The picture remained hidden in a religious of the Order of St. Augustine until it was found in the 14th century, according to legend, following a revelation from heaven. A Shrine to Our Lady of Regla was built around the cistern.

In 1251 Chipiona was conquered by King Ferdinand III, and again more definitively in 1264 by his son Alfonso X the Wise. In 1297 King Ferdinand IV granted Guzman el Bueno, founder of the House of Medina Sidonia, the Lordship of Sanlúcar, to which Chipiona belonged.

In 1303 the eldest daughter of Guzman el Bueno and Maria Alonso Coronel, Isabel Perez de Guzman, Fernan married Ponce de León, receiving as a dowry the towns of Rota and Chipiona, thereby becoming independent both of the Lordship of Sanlúcar and joining the possessions of the Ponce de León family, germ Arcos House.

Castle of Chipiona.

In 1755, Chipiona was severely hit by the tsunami that was caused by the Andalusian and Portuguese Atlantic coast Lisbon earthquake. The effects of the tsunami came to town about an hour after the earthquake, killing four people and leaving flooded streets and beaches, estimating the actual damage to 238 815.

He pulled in procession the image of Christ of Mercy to request the withdrawal of the waters, procession that is repeated every year on November, from the chapel that bears the name of Christ to the Cross the Sea.

Earthquake Narration by the Community of the Holy Convent of Nuestra Señora Santa María de Regla, on December 6, 1755

In the aforementioned November 1 was not noticed any news from sunrise until 10 day time to be serene, and peaceful day, still and calm sea, North Wind insensitive. But, being as 10am, being this Community as high choir solemnly singing the third hour, she began to feel that the choir, and the church with strange swaying motion and this, as noticeable in the view, that lectern, church lamps, candlesticks from the altar, and all the temple shook and moved to a crib mode, from one side to another side, looking to the North and South.

Advirtióse be a terrible earthquake, and although all the relevant cause fright, and entered the desplomase suspicion that the whole building, which [is] of stone, over us all, lacked the freedom to forsake the choir, tied up all of one impulse, and full of confidence safer Patronage of Our Holy Image, which was patent to the eye in its majestic throne. At the point we bow all knees, and straining our devotion, we continue with the canonical time more consistently.

It would last the tremor as ten to twelve minutes, knowing the land restitution made her pause, and natural stillness, came the Community to take their seats, each recognizing the Divine Mercy, and the patronage of Our Lady of Rule, Our Lady, we escaped the threatening havoc with such happiness that is not the least harm experienced in all areas of the convent.

Cantóse conventual Mass without the least suspicion, and concluded, was sung the sixth hour on the end of it, it would be like the 11 and fourth, there was a terrible roar of the sea, and found to be elevated both waves, violently throwing water on said bastion, and on the cliffs of the convent, were overwhelmed by a gunner, who was in it (which did not suffer any damage, having invoked the patronage of Our Holy Image) , and fell upon the walls of the convent, and running for their flooded trenches surrounded the Church and its 2 sides to enter through the front door of the Farm, looking to the East.

Surprised by this unanticipated boost the ocean, some religious who were outside, and within the choir, acceleration fled to the fields, keeping others in the same choir.