The church of El Salvador de Arévalo, currently closed for worship, stands out not only for its documented history, but also for the richness of its legends. One of the most striking traditions suggests that it was the Emperor Constantine who ordered its construction in 336, making it one of the first churches in Hispanic territory. Although there is no documentary evidence for this claim, its persistence in popular memory reflects the symbolic importance that this church has had over the centuries. Another popular account is that during Muslim rule, the church was maintained as a place of Mozarabic worship, which would strengthen its character of religious continuity in the region.
Architecturally, El Salvador is a complex work, the result of several phases of transformation. Its current structure combines original Romanesque elements, such as the apse of the Gospel nave, with Mudejar, Renaissance and Baroque reforms. The tower over the northern apse is integrated in the Mudejar style and has a unique access through a staircase built into the wall. Inside, the church is divided into three naves with Baroque decorations in the vaults, and is particularly noteworthy for its side chapels, such as the chapel of Don Bernal de Dávila Monroy, which contains an exceptional altarpiece by Juan de Juni, and the chapel of Las Navas, founded in 1633, which contains an imposing Italian painting. The church, closed for worship, is now the site of the Easter Week processions of Arévalo and is a living testimony to the architectural and religious evolution of the region.
- Address
Pl. Salvador, 3, Arévalo, Ávila - Web
None - Visiting Hours
Unknown - What to see
Baroque altarpiece by Juan de Juni, Chapel of Las Navas
