San Benito Parish Church

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Castilleja de Guzman-Fachada principal de la Iglesia Parroquial de San Benito

Castilleja de Guzman-Campanario de la Iglesia Parroquial de San Benito

Castilleja de Guzman-La Iglesia Parroquial de San Benito

The original church of San Benito was located next to the Palacio de los Guzmanes. It was later moved to its current location along with its 19th-century works of art and pulpit. The existing building was built by the architect Gabriel Lupiañez Gely in the first quarter of the 20th century. It consists of a nave and two aisles separated by pillars. The nave is covered by a coffered ceiling and the aisle with a wooden structure. Above the altarpiece is a cupola on false pendentives, while the aisles are covered by a mono-pitched ceiling. The flat apse is supported by quadrangular pillars, and the floor was recently done in marble. It has a single entrance on the west front crowned by a bell gable.

Although recently built, the church was designed in the Neo-Mudéjar style. Worthy of note is the Crucified Christ by Francisco de Ocampo from 1620 that presides over the high altar. The statue of Our Lady of Grace is from the 19th century. The image of the Child Jesus is attributed to the School of Martínez Montañés. Several remarkable 17th-century paintings from the Seville School grace the walls of the church. The image of Our Lady of the Rosary, flanked by four, polychrome wood cherubs, is worshipped in a baroque-style chapel. She is worshipped on her feast day, 7 October, and the statue is taken in procession in mid-July when the local festival takes place.

The church was officially opened in January 1928. Despite the passage in time, the Mudéjar influence on this beautiful church can still be perceived in specific details, such as the panelled coffered wood ceiling and pointed arches.

Links

www.castillejadeguzman.es

Labels

Sacred art

Martínez Montañés

Church