San Salvador Collegiate Church, Granada

San Salvador Church stands on the site of the old mosque, which was built in the 9th century, replacing Granada’s first cathedral. The mosque was built by the Almohads, Muslim crusaders who conquered the region, naming it al-Andalus. The site of the church is reflective of the city’s turbulent religious history. The church courtyard and the base of the tower are the only surviving remnants of the mosque.

The building of San Salvador church began in 1674, nearly two hundred years after the conquest of Granada. Designed by Esteban Garcia, it was completed by Jose Granados and Leonardo de Figueroa. A hall church divided into four sections, San Salvador has been refurbished several times throughout its history. The colonnades which surrounded the former mosque courtyard were restored in the 17th century. The church’s main façade is in the Mannerist style, an unusual architectural period sandwiched between Renaissance and Baroque.

The church’s interior is known for a number of ornate individual sections. These include the Chapel of Christ the Helpless, with its roof decorated with Baroque murals, and the Sacramental Chapel, with a huge, intricate altarpiece which incorporates an entrance door. The main altarpiece is one of the most richly decorated in the city, and perfectly captures the elaborate, dazzling artworks found in Baroque religious decoration.