The origins of the brotherhood of the Mare de Déu dels Innocents i Desemparats go back to the beginning of the 15th century, and it was founded to provide assistance to the mentally ill (the Innocents), and to lay to rest the abandoned corpses or the corpses of the executed (the Desemparats).
The Basílica was built in the 18th century in honour of the Virgin to accommodate her statue, and it was the first new Baroque construction in Valencia. Above all, the building stands out for its oval dome, completely decorated with frescoes by Antonio Palomino, who also designed the paintings of the Church of San Nicolás.
The statue of the Virgen de los Desamparados enjoys great devotion among the Valencians and her celebration is held on the second Sunday of May, when the escuradeta (a small market of typical Valencian ceramics) starts.