Basilica de las Angustias, Granada

The Basilica of Angustias was built in 1617, several years after many of Granada’s churches were completed. The building was designed by Juan Luis Ortega. The church has a nave, transept and eight sided chancel. The exterior of the building is notable for its twin towers, with tiled pinnacles. An alcove at the front of the church houses a pieta by Bernardo and Jose de Mora. The interior is notable for its large, ornate altarpiece, typical of the style found in many of Grenada’s churches. It contains an image of Our Lady of Sorrows at its centre. Originally a carving, it was repainted as part of restoration work on the basilica.

Other notable features of the church’s exterior include a number of statues of the Apostles, sculpted by Pedro Duque Cornejo, and paintings by scholars of Granada’s Baroque school. Art works by Juan Leandro de la Fuente, Ambrosio Martinez and Miguel Jeronimo de Cieza, amongst many others, can be seen inside the basilica. The church is located on Carrera del Genil, close to the Puerta Real. Still an active place of worship, it is only open during service times. The church holds masses each weekday morning, and twice on Sundays.