Church of San Pablo: Altars and Chapels (I).

Numerous documents attest, from early dates, to the existence of burials and private chapels in the Church of San Pablo. The Main Chapel was the burial place of the Sotomayor family, but as they could not maintain such a privileged and costly location, they built another chapel, which is now known as the Chapel of the Souls. In the gospel apse, now the Chapel of Sorrows, the Argote family, lords of Cabriñana, were buried; on the other hand, the Angulo family owned the Chapel of Saint Dominic, which is believed to have housed the epistle apse. A document places the Chapel of the Hoces from 1484, but its exact location is unknown, although it is thought to occupy the space currently held by the Chapel of the Expiration. At the foot of the gospel nave was the Chapel of Saint Hyacinth, which belonged to the Mesa and Figueroa families, as evidenced today by the coats of arms on the access arch. Founded in 1446, a few years later, in 1483, works were carried out in the chapel “which must be undone and turned into another form as it is today“.

Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary

The first chapel we address was commissioned in 1409 by Doña Leonor López de Córdoba, in memory of her father, Martín López, who was executed for supporting Peter I in his conflicts with his half-brother Don Enrique, who would eventually become King Henry II of Castile. The Dominicans granted Doña Leonor the space where the gospel door was located and gave her the privilege of placing the door wherever she wished, choosing the current location, that is, at the foot of the church.

The chapel, known since the 18th century as the Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary, is accessed through a slightly pointed and raised arch, resting on rows of smooth-shafted columns, whose capitals blend with a continuous frieze decorated with vegetal motifs. The arch is framed by a sober alfiz, and above it is one of the rose windows that provide light to the space.

Interior Space and Roof

Inside, we find an octagonal-plan space, which Pedro López covered in the late 15th century with a spectacular star-shaped vault with straight ribs. The image of “Our Lady of the Rosary“, from the 18th century, stands out, the period when the chapel was restructured and the Camarín was also built, a room that houses the titular image.

The Camarín

The Camarín presents a completely different style, in line with 18th-century tastes. With a circular plan, the hemispherical vault is supported by pairs of columns on large plinths. Above the columns are sculptures of angels holding Christian symbols, and among the ribs of the vault, round stained glass windows representing various saints stand out.

Chapel of Saint Joseph

Midway along the gospel nave is the Chapel of Saint Joseph, established in the early 15th century by Doña Inés Martínez de Pontevedra, a patron of several works in the church. The interior is accessed through a sober pointed arch, where we find a square-plan space, covered by a dome with eight sections via squinches with groin semi-vaults, a type of covering widely used in Sevillian Mudejar architecture.

The altarpiece, which fits perfectly within the layout of two of the semi-vaults, was executed at the beginning of the 18th century by Jorge Mexia. Made of gilded wood, it consists of three vertical sections and two levels, highlighting the use of the estipite and the Solomonic column. In the central niche is the image of the chapel’s patron, “Saint Joseph“, depicted with the Child Jesus, holding the lily branch, his most characteristic attribute.

Visit to the Church of San Pablo

If you’re wondering what to do in Córdoba, we recommend visiting the Fernandine Churches by booking one of our guided tours. There we will dedicate a special section to the Church of San Pablo. Choose to enjoy high-quality tourism with qualified personnel—don’t hesitate, ArtenCórdoba is the best option.

Text: J.A.S.C.