Majestic Baroque Church

A Journey Through the Spanish Central Plateau ~ Teruel (Region) An impressive church that resembles a cathedral in scale and architectural style. At the time, people even joked, "Why so many?"—a popular saying. The first church on this site was built by the Order of Calatrava in the 13th century, a Christian military organization founded in the 12th century to combat Muslims. This church was constructed on the site of an earlier mosque that was destroyed during the Reconquista. The original church was a Gothic structure with a single nave, dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It was damaged by an earthquake in 1693. The new church was designed by Spanish architect Domingo Yarzá and completed in 1757. It is a masterpiece of Baroque style, featuring two towers flanking the central entrance. The façade is adorned with statues of saints and angels. Inside the church, there are many significant artworks, including a Baroque altarpiece by Francisco Bayeu, a 13th-century Gothic sculpture of the Virgin Mary, and a 16th-century painting of "The Last Supper."