Church of San Pedro: Altars and Chapels.

As its name suggests, the following section aims to describe the various altars and chapels housed within the Church of San Pedro, as well as paintings, sculptures, and other valuable pieces worthy of mention.

Chapels and Altars

Baptism Chapel

In the Gospel Nave, located at the foot of the church, we find the Baptism Chapel, founded by the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament in the second half of the 17th century. With a square floor plan, it is covered by a dome over pendentives and decorated with plasterwork by Francisco and Pedro Ruiz Paniagua. The entrance has a marked classicist style, crowned by a triangular pediment. In this room, the sculptor Juan de Mesa—a fundamental figure of 17th-century Andalusian and Spanish Baroque imagery—was baptized.

Altar of Saint Joseph

On the Epistle side, we first highlight the Altar of Saint Joseph. A piece of profound neoclassical character, featuring a polychrome sculpture of Saint Joseph with the Child Jesus. Presiding over the altar is a canvas in very poor condition representing the Martyrdom of Saint Bartholomew.

Chapel of the Holy Martyrs

Undoubtedly of great value is the Chapel of the Holy Martyrs, which houses the remains of the first three martyrs of our city: Marcial, Fausto, and Januario. Their remains were already deposited in the original Mozarabic temple, and the current chapel was built in the 18th century to house them permanently. Construction began in 1742 following the plans of Don Diego de los Reyes, featuring a square space covered by a dome over pendentives.

The entrance, flanked by two figures of archangels believed to be the work of Teodosio Sánchez Cañadas, consists of a semicircular arch surrounded by lush plaster decoration. The altarpiece, crafted by Alonso Gómez de Sandoval around 1760, was made of wood and later gilded, characterized by its great dynamism and theatricality, perfectly adapting to the layout of the wall; at its center is the urn containing the remains of the martyrs.

Also noteworthy are two large canvases located on the lateral walls of the chapel; both are framed by elaborate and lush plasterwork. The first is the Apparition of the Five Knights to Father Roelas, a theme closely linked to the Holy Martyrs, as it depicts the moment when Father Roelas is informed of the need to provide them with a place of rest. The second is a magnificent depiction of the Last Supper.

Annex Rooms and Sacristy

The next room is smaller than the previous one, but still preserves its Gothic ribbed vault, with a keystone decorated with floral motifs. A blocked window recalls the time when it functioned as a chapel, being connected to the Chapel of the Holy Martyrs. A small metal staircase marks the access to the original tower, which no longer exists.

Through a small opening, we enter the Sacristy, the work of architect Juan de Ochoa. It is a rectangular space covered by two vaults over pendentives. A room of great sobriety, which in no way detracts from its unique and serene beauty.

Apse Areas

Epistle Apse

In the Epistle Apse, we can highlight what is possibly the highest-quality painting in the entire church. It is a representation of Saint Peter, by the Sevillian painter Valdés Leal. Saint Peter is shown seated, looking towards the sky, from which a beam of light descends to illuminate him, while he holds in his hand the two keys, representing the Earthly and the Heavenly Worlds.

This is an early work, like the Saint Andrew located in the Church of San Francisco and San Eulogio; however, the mastery of composition and muted tones suggest later stages of the artist.

Gospel Apse

The Gospel Apse houses the main images of the Brotherhood of Mercy, which performs its penance procession on the evening of Holy Wednesday. The Most Holy Christ of Mercy is an anonymous work from the 16th century, while Our Lady of Sorrows in Her Abandonment is an anonymous work from the 17th century.

In the section dedicated to Holy Week in Córdoba, you will find a detailed description of both images.

Cultural Visit

If you would like to discover the Fernandine Churches, do not hesitate to book one of our guided tours. We will pay special attention to the Church of San Pedro. We are experts in the interpretation of Córdoba’s historical heritage. If you have chosen to do tourism in Córdoba, choose a quality option—choose ArtenCórdoba.

Text: J.A.S.C.