As we already explained in the previous section, the Church of La Magdalena is not a worshipping place any more. For this reason, we have decided to explain briefly its inside and focus on what can be appreciated if you decide to visit the church.

With a slightly irregular and inclining floor, it has three parallel naves, the central one being higher and wider than the rest. These three naves consist of three rows of arches supported by columns attached to great square pillars. Over the arches, we can see the traditional reinforced wall, which supports the pressure from the wooden ceiling, put after the restoration, and following the traditional scheme of Fernandine Churches. Simple round openings, together with the rose window located on the main façade, provide the nave with light.

The apse presents a scheme which is already known in Córdoba, with a central polygonal apse, which can be seen from the outside through buttresses that support the pressure from the vaults, and straight side apses. A triumphal round arch leads us to the Main Altar, which is covered by the typical Gothic ribbed vault with the keystone decorated with vegetable elements, the same kind of vault that covers the other apses. It is especially interesting the pointed opening, currently blinded, which led to the apse of the Epistle, as it presents remains of polychromy on its intrados, but the motifs are barely distinguished.

From the side of the Gospel we can highlight, apart from the funerary arcosoliums, a square space covered by a vault and finished with a cupola, which can be accessed through a round moulded opening. Inside there is a small empty alcove, which certainly had an important image. It is undoubtedly the mentioned Chapel of Pains, founded in 1413 by Rodrigo Alfonso de Armenta.

The Entrance of the Gospel, arranged overhanging, adjusts perfectly to the typical scheme used in the Fernandine Churches: a great pointed access arch, consisting of numerous archivolts supported by small thin columns, leads us inside. On its left, there are remains of a sculpture representing “Arcángel San Gabriel“, although nothing has been preserved of the “Virgen María” that should be located on the opposite side, both forming the group “Anunciación de María” (The Annunciation of Mary). The ensemble is crowned by a stone roof, supported by round modillions parted by plain stripes.

The scheme of the Main Entrance, also overhanging, is very similar to the previous one, where we can highlight the decorative motifs, based on saw teeth on the intrados or, on the other side, some sort of balls with two holes on the trasdos. Over the entrance there is a trilobed oculus which has been blinded, which is thought to have had an image. On top of it, there is the restored rose window.

The Entrance of the Epistle stands out for the simplicity of its shapes. It consists of a moulded round arch decorated with diamond ends, and everything is surrounded by a simple alfiz also decorated with diamond ends.

The current tower substituted the medieval one at the end of the 18th century, during the bishopric of Antonio Caballero y Góngora, who sponsored the work, thus the presence of his crest carved on it. It has a square floor and is divided in three parts. The first one does not have any decoration; the second, fixed by four big volutes, has chamfered corners, whereas on the four sides there are four round openings for the bells. The last part also has chamfered angles, and it is finished by a cupola.

If you are wondering what to visit in Córdoba, a good option would be the Fernandine Churches, choosing one of our guided tours. This way you will learn everything about the Church of La Magdalena. Choosing to do high quality sightseeing is choosing ArtenCórdoba.

Text: J.A.S.C.