Paris1972-Versailles2003

In my walking tours of my beloved city of Madrid, and with the coming of age to keep alert on the architecture all around me i came to see many buildings usually overlook by many. This is the case of the Church of San Sebastian ;and what a history it has this little church indeed!

The Church of San Sebastián  is one of the churches in the historic center of Madrid,  located on  Calle Atocha ,No. 39.  It is known for housing the mortal remains of playwright Lope de Vega, although its exact situation is unknown today, and for the famous characters of all kinds that were counted among its parishioners.

The origin of its name is due to a hermitage that was on the road to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Atocha, on which it was founded in 1541. The current plot on calle Atocha was purchased in 1553, and from 1554 to 1575 the church was built. This church, retained the right of asylum, that is, those who feared the persecution of justice could take refuge in it! Over the years, new chapels would be added: the Chapel of Bethlehem or the Architects, designed by Ventura Rodríguez in 1784; the one of the Actors,or that of the Guards, project of 1793. As for the main chapel, it was carried out between 1787 and 1788.

The Chapel of Our Lady of Bethlehem or the Architects.  The chapel is to the right of the entrance, protected by a glazed fence. The Chapel of the Sacred Heart located to the left of the entrance. The Chapel of Our Lady of the Novena adopted by comedians (theater actors) for their devotion. The Chapel of Maravillas de Jesus (wonders of ) dedicated to the Saint Maravillas de Jesus.

The Church of San Sebastian cemetery was located behind it, where today Calle Huertas and Calle San Sebastián meet. After its disappearance due to the remodeling of the area, it was replaced by a florist shop that has not closed even during the bombing in the Spanish Civil War. In it Lope de Vega was buried, but it is also famous because it was the scene of an overwhelming event, after burying the body of the well-known actress María Ignacia Ibáñez aka la Divina, her lover the writer José Cadalso, unable to withstand the loneliness that the death of her beloved produced, returned one night to the cemetery to dig up her body, being surprised by a full police action, and thanks to which he resigned to continue and return home. Interesting indeed!

During the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) it is sacked shortly after its beginning, to be destroyed on the night of November 19 to 20, 1936 by a Franco’s aviation bomb. At the end of the contest it was restored between 1943 and 1959,with the changing of the orientation of the church and leaving the old tower, which was one of the highest in Madrid, sadly unfinished.

Some of the famous baptisms here were those of Ramón de la Cruz (1731) Leandro Fernández de Moratín (1760) José de Echegaray (1832) Jacinto Benavente (1866) and Tirso de Molina (1579). As to funerals here were some such as Miguel de Cervantes (1616); Lope de Vega (1635) Juan Ruiz de Alarcón (1639) Ventura Rodríguez (1788) Ramón de la Cruz (1794) , and Juan de Villanueva (1811). These along should be a welcome visit by many interested in famous burials and men of arts !

The Madrid tourist office on the Church San Sebastian : https://www.esmadrid.com/en/tourist-information/iglesia-de-san-sebastian

The Lope de Vega museum house has a bit on the Church : https://casamuseolopedevega.org/en/madrid-de-lope/el-madrid-de-lope-en/iglesia-de-san-sebastian-en

There you go folks, so much to see in this wonderful Madrid, been coming to it since 1970 but each time it amazes me with the things to see and do, full of life vibrant ,lively, gorgeous just feeling a need to go back lol! Hope you enjoy the post on the Church of San Sebastian at Calle Atocha Madrid!

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!

This Church is in a very popular congested and touristic area of my dear Madrid yet its a bit precluded and I believe many passed by unnoticing it a pity. Its one of the symbols of Madrid for the local and I used to hang around it on many nights of spiritual needs after a night out at the nearby joy eslava lol!(see post).  Well it will be a bit long but its time I am updating this older post for you and me, to give credit to the great Church of San Ginés de Arles of Madrid!

The Church of San Ginés (as is more commonly call)  is under the invocation of San Ginés de Arlés , notary martyr, and seat of the parish of San Ginés of Madrid. Its facades are located at Calle del Arenal No. 13 corner of Calle Bordadores, No 8 , and the Plaza de San Ginés ; and the Pasadizo de San Ginés in a very popular spot. The church was built in the middle of the 17C, and next to the paintings and sculptures that it houses inside, it forms an important historical, artistic and architectural complex of the so-called Madrid of the Austrias.

A bit of history I like

The first references to a temple dedicated to San Ginés de Arlés in Madrid date from the beginning of the 12C, estimating that the origin of the cult of the French Saint could be traced back to the moment of the conquest of Madrid, when Raymond of Burgundy, son-in-law of Alfonso VI , established in 1086 his camp, with his hosts formed by Burgundians and Franco-Provence, near the site of the current church. The first documentary reference is a privilege granted by Alfonso VII in 1156 by which he granted to the church the manor over the villages of Salvanés, Valdearacete and Valdecetias. Still in 1467 it was, one of two located outside the walls of Madrid.

In 1869, the City Hall of Madrid decided to transform the north side, which overlooked the Calle del Arenal , a road that was becoming one of the most important in 19C Madrid. The work was finally executed by 1870–1872, characterized mainly by its carpal arches and neo-Plateresque style. From 1956 to 1964 the last great set of works was made in the church. With this last one, it was sought to give it the appearance it had in the 17C, typical of the Madrid of the Austrias.  

The current structure corresponds to the reconstruction of the temple after the collapse of the primitive and possibly Mudejar in 1641. It is a brick and masonry church with a cover at the foot and another on the side of the Gospel that is accessed from an atrium. It has a quadrangular tower at the foot, of four bodies, with four bells, the two most primitive of 1566. The interior is of three naves, the central one is wide, with deep chapels on the sides, cruise and rectangular presbytery and choir on high feet. It is covered with a barrel vault with lunettes supported by Tuscan pilasters. The side chapels are also covered with domes emptied on scallops. Different is that of the Blessed Christ at the base, almost an independent church and with its own doorway to the atrium, with a Latin cross plan, barrel vault with lunettes and dome on scallops covering the nave, all decorated with marble colors and stucco paint faking marble on the nave. In the head of the temple three altarpieces of neoclassical style and modern making are located, being the area most affected by the fire of 1824. The collaterals are dedicated to the Virgin of Valvanera, of the Royal congregation of natives of La Rioja, and San José, The main altar restoration carried out in 1826 follows the model of the one that existed before that fire, which was no longer the Baroque altarpiece and is occupied by the great painting of the Martyrdom of San Ginés a recreation of the destroyed painting of Rizi, of which the church retains the sketch.

The works of art at the base of the nave are: Entering the temple through the nave of the Gospel is first called the Baptismal Chapel, in which a canvas of the Annunciation of Luca Giordano is located, a copy of an original of Tiziano preserved in Santo Domingo Maggiore of Naples. The painting, together with a Prayer from the lost garden and the same author, was acquired in 1669 by the Congregation of the Holy Christ for this chapel. In the same place there are two carvings in 18C polychrome wood, a Saint John the Baptist and a Christ Risen from the Madrid school. On the opposite side, side of the Epistle, is one of the masterpieces of the church (only shown on Saturday mornings from 11h30 to 12h), the Expulsion of the merchants from the temple or Purification of the temple by the El Greco, which is the last of the versions left of this matter by the Cretan painter and the only one of vertical format due to the greater development of the architectural scene. The painting, which had belonged to the collection of the Admiral of Castile, was acquired by the Congregation of the Blessed Christ in 1705 and remained in its chapel until the remodeling started in 2002.

The Chapels on the side of the Gospel are: The first and most prominent of the temple is the Chapel of the Blessed Christ of Redemption ; The Chapel of the Virgin of Beautiful Love in the direction of the headland the first of the chapels is dedicated to the Virgin of Beautiful Love in a neoclassical altarpiece topped with a medallion of the Education of the Virgin. Follow the Chapel of La Soledad or the Barrionuevo, for having belonged to García de Barrionuevo, father of Jerónimo de Barrionuevo, famous author of the Avisos de Madrid (notices). The Chapel of the Virgin of Guadalupe formerly dedicated to Saint Nicholas of Bari, all its decoration, except the size of the saint in the altarpiece attic , 19C, is a modern work, inaugurated in 1969. A copy of the Virgin of Guadalupe, Patroness of Úbeda (Jaén).

The Chapels on the side of the Epistle are: The Chapel of the Virgen del Carmen ,first from the head, it contains a modern altarpiece imitating the neoclassical style, with a sculpture of the titular Virgin of the early 19C and two angels with little previous lamps: the Chapel of the Holy Family chaired by a canvas of the Holy Family entered in 2008: the Chapel of the Virgin of the Head,the invocation of the chapel and its decoration of tiles is modern, dating from 1932: the Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows , the chapel was formed in the 20C, blinding the gate to the Plazuela, dedicated to the patron saint of Granada. Its decoration, from the 1930s: the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception It occupies the main altarpiece imitating the neoclassical style a canvas of the Immaculate: the Chapel of Our Lady of the Castle formerly dedicated to the Virgen de los Remedios, with an altarpiece from the early 19C as the sizes that integrate it of San José, San Juan Evangelista and San Antonio de Padua. Under the altar is buried Pilar Cimadevilla, a ten-year-old girl.

The Sacristy keeps a 16C Italian table with inlaid marble board and a basin of the same century given by quenn Isabel II. Silver pieces and liturgical ornaments of the 18C and 19C. Two polychrome wood carvings of Santo Domingo de La Calzada and Santo Domingo de Silos that were the altar of the Virgin of Valvanera, and some paintings of interest: a canvas of the Virgin with the Child, from an Italian school of the 17C, Christ crucified , Good Shepherd , oil that is part of an Apostolate owned by the Prado Museum, San Juan Bautista, replica of a painting by Mateo Cerezo preserved in the Kassel Museum, and San José with the Child

In the parish archives, it is kept the baptismal items of the infant Catalina Micaela, second daughter of Felipe II, baptized on October 19, 1567, and Francisco de Quevedo ,September 26, 1580 are preserved; as well as marriage records of Lope de Vega with Isabel de Urbina May 10, 1588, and Francisco Javier de Goya y Bayeu, son of Francisco de Goya, who acted as godfather July 8, 1805; and death certificates of the musician Tomás Luis de Victoria and the painters Juan Pantoja de la Cruz, Juan van der Hamen, Juan de Espinosa, Juan Bautista Martínez del Mazo and Francisco Herrera el Viejo.

The Parish San Ginés of Madrid on the church : http://www.parroquiadesangines.es/horarios/

The Madrid tourist office on the Church San Ginés : https://www.esmadrid.com/en/tourist-information/church-san-gines

In all a very nice monument to see with plenty of architecture and history of my dear Madrid. I hope you can stop by this Church of San Ginés de Arlés of Madrid ! There you go folks, another gem in my dear  Madrid, Hope you enjoy the post on the Church San Ginés de Arles of Madrid !

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!

This is Madrid as close as you can get, have been inside several times but many years ago, finally got around to show my young men the heritage , architecture and history of my dear Madrid . I am updating this wonderful post with text and link for you and me, This is the Patron Saint of Madrid , San Isidro and this is his home. I like to tell you about a place you need to come if really want to know Madrid, the Real Colegiata de San Isidro or Royal Collegiale of Saint Isidore.

The Collegiate Church of San Isidro, also called Collegiate Church of San Isidro el Real, located in the historic center at Calle de Toledo no 37 . It was the provisional cathedral of this city until 1993, the year in which the Almudena Cathedral (see post) opened its doors. The building was built in the 17C as a church of the former Imperial College of the Society of Jesus, which is attached to the building. In it, the mortal remains of San Isidro, patron of Madrid, and his wife, Santa María de la Cabeza, are guarded.

A bit of history I like

The Collegiate Church of San Isidro is due to a 1620 design and the works began two years later, until 1633 ,and completed construction with others in 1664. The Collegiate Church of San Isidro replaced the parish of St. Peter and St. Paul, from the 16C, which was demolished, next to the primitive Imperial College, following the instructions left in his will by Mary of Austria ,daughter of Emperor Carlos I. The Empress bequeathed her fortune to the Society of Jesus in order to build a new church on the site of the demolished church. The church was consecrated on September 23, 1651. In 1767, with the expulsion of the Jesuits, it became a collegiate church. Two years later, by order of King Carlos III it was under the invocation of San Isidro.  In 1885, with the constitution of the diocese of Madrid, it became the provisional cathedral of this city, a rank that it held for more than a century, until 1993, when the current Almudena Cathedral was concluded and San Isidro recovered the condition of Collegiate Church. In 1936, the church was set on fire as soon as the Spanish Civil War began. The fire destroyed numerous works of art, including the main altarpiece, as well as canvases by Francisco Ricci or Luca Giordano. The fire also caused the sinking of the dome, the first  vault with structure of recycled wood, canes and gypsum. After the war, the entire Church was restored. The process developed slowly over two decades, trying to recover as much as possible the original elements, until culminating in the 1960s with the elevation of a new section in the towers of the main façade. Since 1978 the Church of San Isidro  is the canonical seat of the Brotherhood of Our Father Jesus of the Great Power and Mary Most Holy of Hope Macarena, who collects the witness of these two Sevillian devotions and makes its processional departure from Holy Week on the afternoon of Holy Thursday.

The Collegiate Church of San Isidro is one of the most representative religious architecture in Madrid of the 17C. It was built in Baroque style by Jesuit architects, who followed the model defined in the Church of the Gesù, in Rome. Its single-nave Latin cross plan, with side chapels, cruise and dome, denotes this influence. The main facade, which overlooks Calle de Toledo, stands out for its monumental air with palatial reminiscences. Made of granite, it integrates a central body of four Corinthian columns, chaired by a sculptural group with the effigies of San Isidro and his wife Santa Maria de la Cabeza.

On the nave the dome rises, is the first example of a boxed dome, a type of false dome drawn on a wooden frame covered with plaster, which, given its lightness, facilitates its support on walls of small thickness. The interior of the church rich in works of art, lost much of them in the fire of the early 20C (Spanish Civil War by Republicans). However, the sarcophagus was saved with the relics of San Isidro, which is guarded in the main altarpiece, and some paintings and sculptures; thus, an excellent altarpiece chaired by La Sagrada Familia (Holy Family), also called Las dos Trinidades (two trinitaires) , in the Pilar chapel; or several paintings by the baroque, among them the one that represents the conversion of San Francisco de Borja, in the altarpiece of the left arm of the nave.  The pulpit is also interesting, made in a combination of polychrome marbles. The great main altarpiece, which is in Neoclassical style, was grazed by the fire and replaced after the Spanish Civil War with an exact copy; In its central part it houses two sarcophagi that contain the relics of the patron Saint of Madrid and his wife, also a Saint.

The official Mass of the Royal Collegiate Church of San Isidro :https://misas.org/p/real-colegiata-de-san-isidro-y-nuestra-senora-del-buen-consejo-madrid

The Madrid tourist office on the Collegiate Church of San Isidro : https://www.esmadrid.com/en/tourist-information/colegiata-de-san-isidro

There you go folks, a must when in Madrid, even if not into religion, this is the architecture and historical center of the city, the meaning for all its residents and you will leave knowing more about Madrid than ever. Hope you enjoy the post on the Royal Collegiate Church of San Isidro! 

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!

This of course, is a must to visit in my dear Madrid,  I come to the wonderful awesome Cathedral of the Almudena. Again I am updating this older post with text and link for you and me, and of course see my other posts on it in my blog. The Cathedral of Santa Maria Real de la Almudena  was built opposite the Palacio Real (see post) as an old church Santa Maria during the 12C. It is the episcopal seat of the diocese of the city. It is a church 102 meters long and 73 meters high built on a mixture of different styles: neoclassical outside, neo-Gothic inside and neo-Romanesque in the crypt. It was begun to be built in 1883 and was consecrated by Pope John Paul II on his fourth trip to Spain on June 15, 1993. It is the only Spanish Cathedral dedicated by a Pope.

The main façade overlooks Plaza de la Armería, facing the Royal Palace. You can access the crypt from Calle Mayor. Unlike other cathedrals, which have an east-west orientation, that of Almudena has a north-south orientation, fruit of its design as an integral part of the complex of the Royal Palace. It is built in stone from Novelda (near Alicante) and granite from Colmenar Viejo (near Madrid). A complete visit to the Almudena Cathedral is divided into three phases: Interior of the temple, Museum and dome, and the Crypt. The museum of the Almudena Cathedral has the mission of preserving, exhibiting, investigating the history of the diocese of Madrid. The permanent exhibition consists of objects of considerable religious and historical-artistic value from the former parish of Santa Maria de la Almudena, cradle of the current cathedral.

The mounting to the dome is a highlight for me. Halfway up is the balcony, with a perfect view of the Plaza de la Armeria of the Palacio Real. Also on the climb you can admire an impressive model of the first project of the cathedral, designed by the architect Francisco de Cubas, from the end of the 19C. But what is most impressive is the view from above, outside the dome. From here you can enjoy an excellent panoramic view, with 360 degree vision, of all of Madrid. The Casa de Campo, the sierra or mountains, the entire flat part of the south plains, the rooftops of the city center of Madrid. Everything is seen with a privileged perspective. Without a doubt, it is one of the best viewpoints in Madrid. In all a must to come here.

The official Catedral de la Almudena : https://catedraldelaalmudena.es/

The Madrid tourist office on the Cathedral : https://www.esmadrid.com/en/tourist-information/catedral-de-la-almudena

The Madrid tourist office on the Cathedral’s museum : https://www.esmadrid.com/en/tourist-information/almudena-cathedral-museum

There you go folks another jewel in my Madrid and you should see it too! Wonderful area, full of architecture and history of my dear Madrid , a must to see the Catedral de la Almudena. Hope you enjoy it as I

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!