Church of Santa Marina: Altars and Chapels.

From the nave of the Gospel side, profoundly transformed in the 18th century and partially restored to its original state, we can highlight a small Altar dedicated to Saint Joseph which features a niche with the image of the Saint, as well as an oil painting of Saint Agnes attributed to Cristóbal Vela Cobo, and an Adoration of the Magi, a copy of a Rubens original.

But of particular interest is the Chapel of the Tabernacle, accessed through a simple semicircular arch. It is a square space covered by a dome on pendentives, decorated with images of the four evangelists. At the center, there is an altarpiece housing the Tabernacle, featuring a horizontal painting representing the Last Supper. Also noteworthy are two paintings by Alonso Enríquez de Navarra depicting Saint Agnes and Saint John on one side, and Saint John the Baptist and Saint Barbara on the other.

Chapel of the Benavides

The Gospel apse is occupied by the Chapel of the Benavides, commissioned by the captain of the Spanish army Alonso de Benavides, born in the parish of Santa Marina. The gilded wooden altarpiece is the work of Sebastián Vidal, who gave it a notable classicist character.

Divided into three sections, the sides feature paintings by Antonio del Castillo, depicting Saint John and Saint Francis. In the central niche is a Resurrected Christ, titular image of the Brotherhood of the Resurrected, created by Juan Manuel Miñarro.

To the right is the Virgin of Joy, by Juan Martínez Cerrillo, co-titular of the brotherhood, and at the other end, the Angel that parades alongside the Lord through the streets of Córdoba on Easter Sunday.

Main Altar

At the Main Altar we can highlight the Virgin of the Rosary, an anonymous work from the first half of the 17th century, representing a young Virgin holding the Child Jesus with her left arm and a rosary with her right hand.

On the sides are two paintings attributed to Cristóbal Vela Cobo representing the archangels Saint Gabriel and Saint Raphael. It is believed that both works, nearly identical, originally represented the Archangel Saint Michael and were later retouched.

Epistle Apse

In the Epistle apse, which has largely preserved its medieval appearance, stands a small altar decorated with Solomonic columns, in whose niche is an image of Saint Marina, created by Blanca de Alvear in 1968.

A sculpture that, despite being modern, blends perfectly with the surroundings due to its hieratic and generally archaic character. Among the paintings decorating the space, an Immaculate Conception from the early 18th century stands out, though it is in poor condition.

Altarpieces on the Epistle Side

Altar of Saint John the Baptist

On the Epistle side, we can first highlight two altarpieces located on either side of the entrance door. The first is the Altar of Saint John the Baptist, made of polychrome wood, an anonymous work from the 17th century.

In the center is a magnificent painting of Saint John the Baptist, flanked by paintings of Saint Joseph, Saint Anthony of Padua, Saint Francis, and Saint Blaise, created by José Saló Junquet, copying originals scattered across various collections.

Crowning the altarpiece is an Immaculate Conception attributed to Antonio del Castillo, dated 1645.

Altar of Our Lady of the Light

The second altarpiece is known as the Altar of Our Lady of the Light, named after the central image, a work by Alonso Gómez de Sandoval from the mid-18th century.

Above it, a copper painting of Saint Sebastian depicts him at the moment of his martyrdom.

Chapel of the Orozco

We conclude our tour with the Chapel of the Orozco, whose founder remains unknown. The entrance is very interesting, as it consists of a pointed arch framed by an alfiz, with the spandrels decorated with Mudejar plasterwork, featuring two Crosses of Calatrava, suggesting the patron may have belonged to this order.

Above, the use of muqarnas can be observed.

The interior of the chapel is a square space covered by a dome on squinches, with a painted floral motif in the center. Many elements were altered during the restoration carried out a few years ago.

One remarkable piece is an exceptional Immaculate Conception by Antonio del Castillo, undoubtedly one of the most outstanding painters to have worked in 17th-century Córdoba, and fortunately, this church houses several of his works.

Cultural Visit

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 chapter to the Church of Santa Marina.

Choose to experience high-quality tourism with qualified personnel—no doubt, ArtenCórdoba is the best option.

Text: J.A.S.C.