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

m.angeles Gurruchaga (7 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 (7 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 (8 months ago)
It's hardly ever open, it's a shame because it's beautiful from the outside.
Pedro Ortega Ortiz (2 years ago)
The oldest church in Jaén, which is located in one of the most emblematic neighborhoods of the capital for everything you can see in this area of ​​La Magdalena. Simple and basic in its façade with the bell tower or old minaret of Mudejar origin. Beautiful inside with imagery that you will see on Holy Tuesday. The beautiful patio of the old mosque, well restored, is very striking. It is worth visiting in its entirety.
Miguel Angel Moncholi (mmoncholi) (2 years ago)
A must-see place on your tour of Jaén. The current church dates from the s. XVI and was built on a mosque of the s. VIII of which the four naves and the patio can still be seen, conserving a horseshoe arch and a semicircular arch. In front of the church of La Magdalena you will find the Raudal de la Magdalena of Roman origin. This spring is part of the legendary legend of the Lagarto de la Magdalena.
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