Church of Santiago: Altars and Chapels.

As its name suggests, the following section aims to describe the various altars and chapels housed in the Church of Santiago, as well as paintings, sculptures, and other valuable pieces worth highlighting.

The Baldachin and the Main Altar

We begin with the replica of the Baldachin commissioned by Pius II for the St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, originally from the Pavilion of the Holy See at the 1992 Universal Exposition in Seville. The Baldachin currently occupies the presbytery of the church and houses a statue of St. James the Apostle, the patron saint of the church. The Apostle is depicted dressed as a knight; he once held a sword in his right hand, his most characteristic symbol, which has since been replaced by a pilgrim’s staff.

Gospel Apse

On the Gospel side, several of the main images of the well-known Brotherhood of Las Penas de Santiago stand out, specifically those of the mystery group that processes through the streets of Córdoba on Palm Sunday. At the center is the brotherhood’s main image, the Most Holy Christ of Sorrows, an anonymous work from the 13th century. The image of the Lord is flanked by a sorrowful Virgin, Our Lady Mother of the Forsaken, and a statue representing St. John the Evangelist, both works by the Sevillian sculptor Antonio Eslava Rubio.

Epistle Apse

In the Epistle apse is located the other main image of the Las Penas brotherhood, Mary Most Holy of the Conception, a sculpture created by the image-maker Juan Ventura Rodríguez around 1986. Attached to this nave are the other church facilities, such as the Sacristy and the Chapel of the Annunciation.

The Sacristy and the Archive

Entering through what was once the church’s entrance on its right side, we arrive at a small room that is now used as the Sacristy. The doorway is quite similar to the main entrance of the church, featuring moulded archivolts and a pointed arch. Notable too is the vegetal decoration of the capitals that blends with the ornamentation of the continuous frieze, all supported by slender engaged columns attached to the wall.

From the Sacristy, we pass into another room, the Parish Archive, of particular interest as it preserves marriage records and baptismal books dating back to the 16th century.

Chapel of the Annunciation

The final stop on our visit is the Chapel of the Annunciation, formerly known as the Hoces Chapel, which dates back to medieval times. Rectangular in shape, it is covered by two tierceron vaults supported by pillars with three attached columns. The capitals have been preserved and feature vegetal decoration.

Our Lady of Solitude

At the foot of the chapel stands the main image of the other brotherhood housed in the Church of Santiago, Our Lady of Solitude, a polychrome wooden sculpture made by the sculptor Luis Álvarez Duarte around 1974. The Brotherhood of Solitude brings silence and solemnity to the streets of Córdoba on Good Friday evening.

The Chapel’s Altarpiece

The other wall is dominated by an altarpiece attributed to the circle of Pedro Fraile de Guevara, made in the mid-17th century. The altarpiece was formerly presided over by a curved canvas depicting The Annunciation of Mary, which gave the chapel its name; this canvas was removed from its original place when a painting of The Exaltation of the Cross was discovered, which is now at the center of the altar.

The paintings that complete the altarpiece depict various moments from the life of the Virgin Mary, with a beautiful Immaculate Conception crowning it.

Visiting the Church of Santiago

If you’re unsure what to do in Córdoba, we recommend visiting the Fernandine Churches by booking one of our guided tours. We will dedicate a special chapter to the Church of Santiago. Choose high-quality tourism with qualified staff—don’t hesitate, ArtenCórdoba is the best option.

Text: J.A.S.C.