Saint Idelfonso Church

It is a Mudejar church built around 1553, outside the walled city and near the gate of Elvira. Alonso Cano and Pedro de Moya received baptism in this church.

It is a temple with a large nave covered by a beautiful Mudejar coffering and five side chapels. The header has a square plan and connects with other parish units.

Between the arches of the nave there are eight Granada school canvases depicting scenes from the life of Christ, the Virgin and the Apostles, dating from the seventeenth century. Among the chapels you can also find six mirrors of the eighteenth century.

The Altarpiece

The altarpiece presiding the temple was carried out in 1720, and replaced the original, which is currently placed in a side chapel, but had to be cut in order to fit to the new site. It was designed by Ambrosio de Vico in 1603 and performed by Miguel Cano, Alonso Cano's father.

The current altarpiece is composed of pew, two bodies with three sections and an attic. The streets of the first level are separated by fluted and Salomonic columns decorated with cherubs, scrolls, branches and other plant motifs. On the sides there are niches with a scallop containing the images of Saint Ines carrying the attributes of the palm of martyrdom and a lamb, symbol of purity, and Saint Catalina of Siena. The central section is larger and concave, forming a large apse and the second body separated by a broken cornice. In its sides there are niches hosting the sculptures of Saint Joseph and Saint Anthony Abad.

In the middle, there is a large tabernacle with an open structure with theatrical effect, typical of that time. In the lower side, in niches between Salomonic columns, there are magnificent sculptures of Saint Peter and Saint Paul.

On the second floor, iconography is dominated by the sculpture group of the Imposition of the chasuble to Saint Idelfonso by the Virgin Mary. This scene is guarded by images of the Archangels Saint Michael and Saint Raphael.

The altarpiece is surmounted by a divided pediment.

The altar is completed with a rich pediment with inlaid marble representing symbols and attributes of the Eucharist and Saint Idelfonso.

On the side chapels, a series of great value altarpieces and sculptures are distributed belonging to Granada’s Baroque School:  An image of Rosario Virgin, the work of Jose Risueño, Virgin of the Merced by Diego de Mora and, as original piece, the baroque carriage that was used to give Holy Communion or the Holy Viaticum to the sick people in Easter period.

The façade

The main facade is in stone by Juan de Alcantara, following Diego de Siloe’s tracing. It has two bodies, in the lower one and under the rounded arch; the door giving access to the temple is situated, flanked by two Ionic columns on a high plinth. The upper body is formed by a relief between two columns, representing the Imposition of the chasuble to Saint Idelfonso by the Virgin. In the spandrels of the facade the crests of Archbishop Don Pedro Guerrero can be found.

We recommend:

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