Chapel of Santa Teresa and Treasure

Part of the space currently occupied by the Chapel of Saint Teresa and the Main Sacristy of the Mosque-Cathedral was previously taken up by the Chapels of Saint Martin and Saint Andrew since the 1330s. The Chapel of Saint Martin was founded by the sons of Don Arias de Castro in January 1330 to serve as their father’s burial place; he was an important ambassador of King Ferdinand IV. The Chapel of Saint Andrew, which at the time provided access to the Main Sacristy, was erected by the Dean of the Cathedral, Don Gil Pérez.

Foundation of the Chapel of Saint Teresa

When the De Castro family’s patronage over the Chapel of Saint Martin ended, and since the rights to the Chapel of Saint Andrew belonged to the cathedral chapter, the space was granted to Cardinal Salazar for the construction of his Chapel of Saint Teresa and future mausoleum. The Cardinal, Bishop of Córdoba between 1686 and 1706, was a figure of notable importance in the city’s history. Several works from his extensive patronage survive, such as the Hospital of Cardinal Salazar—now the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters—and the Church of Saint Peter of Alcántara.

Baroque architecture of the chapel

The design was commissioned to Francisco Hurtado Izquierdo, master builder of the Cathedral, and construction began in 1697. The architect designed an octagonal space covered by a dome divided into eight sections, whose ribs are decorated with floral motifs. Above this is a large drum punctuated by various windows, all crowned by broken triangular pediments. The white of the walls, combined with fine baroque plasterwork, gives this unique space a special character, adding even greater heterogeneity to the overall complex of the former Mosque, now Cathedral.

Tomb of Cardinal Salazar

Upon entering the chapel, to the right, one finds the “Tomb of Cardinal Salazar“, also designed by Hurtado Izquierdo, but executed between 1709 and 1710 by sculptors Teodosio Sánchez de Rueda, Domingo Lernico, and Juan Prieto. It is believed that Hurtado Izquierdo may have been inspired by models created by Bernini in Rome, though the quality did not match those. He used black marble for the architectural elements, such as the pedestal and canopy, and white marble for the sculptures, with the Cardinal’s kneeling figure standing out.

Altarpiece and sculptures

Teodosio Sánchez de Rueda carved the original Altarpiece of Saint Teresa that once presided over the chapel; however, it was later replaced by the current neoclassical one. Made of stucco, it rests upon a Tabernacle decorated with a bronze relief of “The Pietà” by Virgilio Castelli, brought from Italy specifically for the chapel. Above it stands a polychrome wooden sculpture of “Saint Teresa“, created by the Granadan artist José de Mora Expósito around 1705. Gracefully posed, the Saint is shown receiving the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, symbolizing her role as Doctor of the Church. The remaining sculptures in the room are also by the Granadan sculptor, including Saint Augustine, Saint Peter Nolasco, and Saint Francis of Assisi…

Paintings by Acisclo Antonio Palomino

Acisclo Antonio Palomino decorated the Chapel of Saint Teresa with three large canvases depicting three iconic episodes from the city’s religious history: “The Apparition of Saint Raphael to Father Roelas“, “Saint Acisclo and Saint Victoria“, and “The Conquest of Córdoba by Ferdinand III the Saint“, painted around 1713. The two remaining canvases, located above the doors leading to the Crypt and the Treasury, depict “The Immaculate Conception” and “The Assumption of Mary“, both framed with elaborate frames by Teodosio Sánchez de Rueda.

The Monstrance by Arfe

At the center of the chapel stands the “Monstrance” created by the German silversmith Enrique de Arfe, a true gem of the Cathedral Treasury. Cast and chiseled in silver between 1514 and 1518, it represented a new conception of processional goldsmithing in Spain. It stands 2.62 meters tall, of which 40 cm correspond to restorations and enlargements made during the 16th and 18th centuries. Its base width is approximately 0.92 meters.

Crypt and Treasury

The two aforementioned doors, to the left and right, lead to the Crypt and the Treasury respectively. The Crypt, designed as a burial place for the Cardinal’s family, is covered by a vaulted ceiling decorated with plasterwork, and its walls are adorned with paintings by Juan Pompeyo: “The Virgin Appears to Saint Ferdinand“, “The Martyrdom of Saint Zoilus“, “Saint Eulogius“, and “The Transverberation of Saint Teresa“. The Treasury, apart from the aforementioned “Monstrance” by Arfe, is displayed in two rectangular rooms, with highlights such as the “Cross of Bishop Manrique” or the “Image of Our Lady“, created by Damián de Castro, inspired by an original wooden sculpture by Pedro Duque Cornejo.

Visit the Chapel of Saint Teresa

If you wish to explore the Chapel of Saint Teresa and the Treasury of the Mosque-Cathedral, don’t hesitate to book one of our guided tours. We are experts in the interpretation of Córdoba’s historical heritage. If you’ve chosen to do tourism in Córdoba, choose a quality option—choose ArtenCórdoba.

Text: J.A.S.C.