Saint Augustine Church: The Building.

The Church of San Agustín features a rectangular floor plan divided into three naves, with the central one being wider and taller than the side aisles. Each nave has six bays separated by pillars, and the structure includes a straight transept and a triple polygonal apse. Of the entire building, only the apse and transept remain from the medieval period. The original floor plan likely consisted of a triple polygonal apse. The current apse includes a central apse and two lateral ones, covered by Gothic ribbed vaults with a central spine, reflecting Burgundian influence and confirming their closure in the 14th century. The thinner and more pointed profile of the ribs and formers results in much more concave webs—especially noticeable in the main chapel’s vaulting, which is later than the lateral chapels and retains its original keystones—while the windows follow the Chartres style.

The church naves

The Church of San Agustín has three naves divided into six bays.

Vaults, apse, and transept

The vaults of the chapels of the Gospel and Epistle sides each have six webs, while the preceding bay and the arms of the transept each have only four. The Epistle chapel displays a set of rose windows with interesting tracery that adds originality to the ensemble. The transept features ribbed vaults on the sides, and almost certainly, a star-shaped ribbed vault once covered the center. The pillars used in the apse and transept are angled, with columns set at the polygon’s corners. In this section, the capitals are roughly carved and decorated with vegetal motifs, predominantly leaves and birds. The arches follow the pointed, double, and chamfered style. The main portal, located at the west end of the church, dates back to the 15th century.

16th and 17th Century Renovations

At the end of the 16th century, the choir front was redesigned in a distinctly Mannerist style, featuring a Serlian composition with a central circular opening flanked by rectangular ones—a detail frequently used by Hernán Ruiz III. The bell tower was likely also built during this time, consisting of two sections: a lower rectangular base and an upper square body, with twelve openings framed by Tuscan pilasters and topped with pendants. However, between 1617 and 1630, the church underwent a major renovation to adapt it to the prevailing aesthetic, under the leadership of Friar Pedro de Córdoba, who commissioned one or more architects likely connected to the Cathedral or at least inspired by the architectural layout of the Main Church.

The structural elements of the apse and the transept arms were preserved but modified with mural paintings depicting angels holding musical instruments. The Gothic ribbed vaulting on the sides of the transept was retained and decorated with paintings of saints and holy women of the Order of Saint Augustine. The central space was covered with an ovoid vault divided into segments resting on pendentives adorned with representations of the Church Fathers. The choir was located at the west end of the church, elevated and occupying the last three bays, supported by rich corbels that extend along the central nave and part of the transept arms, forming an elaborate balcony. The area beneath the choir is notable for its stuccowork and paintings, particularly an “Immaculate Conception” attributed to Cristóbal Vela. The two-story tower features twelve openings framed by Tuscan pilasters and crowned with pendants.

Interior Decoration

The three naves, each divided into six bays, were preserved, but the pillars were replaced with the current rectangular ones richly decorated with paintings and murals, notably those of “The Prophets” by the artistic circle of Cristóbal and Antonio Vela. The central nave’s ceiling was replaced with a barrel vault with lunettes, divided into panels and decorated with mural paintings attributed to Juan Luis Zambrano. The imagery on the vault depicts the apostles alongside phrases from the Creed, while the lunettes feature pairs of easily recognizable half-length female saints. The side aisles have flat ceilings, richly decorated with stuccowork and murals depicting scenes from the life of Saint Thomas of Villanova on the left nave, while those on the right are nearly lost.

The Main Façade

Today, the main façade consists of three doorways arranged in a truncated gable. Above these entrances are three openings topped with oculi, evoking the formal language of the Hernán Ruiz family. A lintelled opening frames a basket-handle arch, above which is a trilobed arch surrounded by a third semicircular one. Corinthian columns frame the ensemble, supporting an entablature crowned by a broken pediment. “Saint Augustine” stands in the niche at the center, topped by a curved pediment flanked by coats of arms. The façade is completed by two lintelled doors topped with broken pediments featuring pendants and a central cartouche with a coat of arms, providing access to the side aisles.

Visiting the Church of San Agustín

If you’re wondering what to visit in Córdoba, a great option would be the Fernandine Churches, by choosing one of our guided tours. This way, you can learn everything about the Church of San Agustín. Choosing quality tourism means choosing ArtenCórdoba.

Text: Jesús Pijuán