Luzmán's Pilgrimage in Selva De Aventuras

Jerónimo de Contreras’s Selva de aventuras (1565) traces the pilgrimage of Luzmán from Seville to Rome. His pilgrimage is intriguing: he self-identifies as a Christian pilgrim, yet he spent most of his journey in secular spaces. Luzmán’s behavior foreshadows the substitution of Algiers for Rome as a center of spiritual transformation. In Rome, he behaves like a tourist, amused by the political and civic architecture of the city. In Algiers, after being kidnapped by pirates, Luzmán experiences a spiritual awakening promoted by his work as a gardener. This study argues that Luzmán’s Algerian captivity fosters his spiritual transformation. It provides the elements to characterize him as a messianic figure upon his return to Seville. Luzmán’s perils force us to rethink where spiritual transformations might take place. Focusing on the substitution of Algiers for Rome as a center of spiritual transformation, this study sheds new light on the ways in which people have historically understood and may appropriate religious experiences for secular purposes.