Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción

La Guardia de Jaén, Spain

The Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción and the old convent of Santa María Magdalena de la Cruz are part of the convent founded by the Dominican Order in the town of La Guardia de Jaén. Construction at the current location began around 1539. Initially Gothic in style, the layout initially followed a project drafted by Domingo de Tolosa. It was later deeply revised by Andrés de Vandelvira, who imprinted his personal Renaissance stamp on the temple and cloister loggia.

Although the contract signed by Vandelvira set an execution period of two and a half years, the architect's work took a total of twenty-six years, which led to a new commission for Francisco del Castillo el Mozo, who built the arch over the choir; the enclosure of the façade, it ended the gallery of the cloister and adorned it with a fountain dedicated to María Magdalena, the patron saint of the convent. This fountain dates back to 1577, the end of the last construction period, and of all construction on the convent.

After the Civil War, the church became a parish church, thus recovering from a long period of abandonment due to its confiscation. The rest of the convent rooms were either sectioned off or later underwent major renovation, resulting in the current state of the complex, whose cloister and many of its attached rooms were occupied until the end of 2007 by the San Sebastián Olive Oil Cooperative.

The convent of Santa María Magdalena is an important heritage site in La Guardia de Jaén and one of the greatest examples of the architecture of the master builder Andrés de Vandelvira, who gave the church an iconographic program of great value, and the only example that we know in his production of an octagonal headboard.

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Details

Founded: 1539
Category: Religious sites in Spain

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

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User Reviews

Pedro Sánchez Vallejo (2 years ago)
El Puerto de la Cruz (3 years ago)
pepa bero (3 years ago)
It is the church of the old Convent of Santa María Magdalena de la Cruz, of the Order of Preachers. Its works began around 1539, thanks to Don Rodrigo de Messia and his wife Doña Mayor de Fonseca. Initially Gothic in style, it was later revised by Andrés de Vandelvira who gave it his personal Renaissance style. Its main façade is not finished but its interior is another dimension. A beautiful Main Altar where an oven vault decorated with coffers stands out, the masterful realization of which led it to be called the eighth of the Guard. Likewise, its two horns venerated with the shields of its founders stand out. The lantern and its dome, the crypt or the choir are other places of interest inside the church. A must visit if you are for the Guard.
MC L (6 years ago)
Sergio Cuéllar (6 years ago)
Great Renaissance construction by the great Andrés de Vandelvira. If you go to La Guardia it is mandatory, I think it only opens with a guided tour. The town hall guide, Juan, shows it to you in detail, with photos, explanations, wisdom. It is an authentic jewel both Juan and the Church. Simple on the outside, but wonderful on the inside.
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