La Magdalena Church

Jaén, Spain

La Magdalena is a Gothic-style, Roman Catholic church located in the city of Jaén. The church was built atop the foundations of a mosque that had been erected in 825 by Abd ar-Rahman II. The present bell-tower was the former minaret, putatively redesigned by Andrés de Vandelvira. The pool in the cloister was used by Muslim worshipers prior to entering the building. Outside in the plaza is a pool with the statue of the Lizard of Jaén (Lagarto de Jaén), depicting a legendary monster of the area.

The church a main nave and three aisles, separated by arches that are spanned by ribbed vaults. The portal has Isabelline Gothic decoration. The church includes a polychrome sculptural group depicting the Calvary attributed to Jacobo Florentino or Jerónimo Quijano; a Christ of the Mercy (1593) by Salvador de Cuéllar; and a Kneeling Magdalen (1572) by Mateo Medina. The church has a number of 17th and 18th-century canvases. The main portal doors were carved in 1555.

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Details

Founded: 825 AD
Category: Religious sites in Spain

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

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4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Marcus Hurley (8 months ago)
After the Arab baths and a quick look at the central courtyard of the palace we walked to the Church of Mary Magdalene to see the original Moorish ablutions bath there as the church was built on the site of the mosque and retained some Moorish colonnades too. The tower was originally the minaret but not sure if it is possible to climb it. The church is the oldest in the city and when we visited there was a mannequin (not sure of that's the right word) that is carried around the town during Holy Week.
Bea FM (8 months ago)
It is one of the oldest churches in the city of Jaén located in a traditional neighborhood. We went to visit her last Holy Tuesday. It is home to the Ancient and Illustrious Brotherhood, popularly known as La Magdalena.
m.angeles Gurruchaga (15 months ago)
Church of Santa María Magdalena Jaén It is the oldest in Jaén built on a mosque from which the minaret is preserved. The cover is Gothic. Opposite is the stream, which is the old spring that supplied water to Jaén. It is located in the La Morería neighborhood, nearby is the Jewish quarter.
Carlos Lallena Passas (15 months ago)
Located in the Magdalena neighborhood to which it gives its name, it was originally a mosque of which the minaret and the ablution courtyard are preserved. It is also the oldest church in the city. To highlight, the Gothic façade and inside a Calvary by Jacobo Florentino; a panel of Our Lady of Pilar and San Antón by Pedro Machuca; the Christ of Clemency by Salvador de Cuéllar and the Magdalena by Mateo de Medina; The Christ of the Corpus by Jerónimo Quijano and Our Father Jesus of the Fall, the work of Emilio Navas Parejo from Granada. From the patio next to the pond there are views of the Santa Catalina Castle from which you can take some beautiful photos.
Sara (16 months ago)
It's hardly ever open, it's a shame because it's beautiful from the outside.
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