Real Iglesia del Salvador y Santo Domingo de Silos

Two monumental structures share a single address in Córdoba. The Real Iglesia del Salvador y Santo Domingo de Silos stands alongside the Colegio de Santa Catalina. These buildings, which constitute a set of buildings around which the urban trama of the city is formed, were conceived as one entity by the Company of Jesus in the 16th century.

The construction of the church began in 1565 with the help of Catalina Fernández de Córdoba, marquesa de Priego. By 1580, work on the vault had begun, and by 1585, the church was roofed and featured a main entrance designed by Francisco de Villalpando. The temple was blessed on January 12, 1589, though a storm later caused the bell tower to fall, leading to the construction of the current espadaña.

In 1767, the expulsion of the Jesuits by Carlos III led to a relocation of parishes. A Real Cédula issued on August 26, 1769, ordered the parishes of El Salvador and Santo Domingo de Silos to be moved to the temple of Santa Catalina, with the former building being ceded to the religious of the Espíritu Santo. However, the unification of the parishes of Santo Domingo de Silos and El Salvador under the name of Real Iglesia Parroquial del Salvador y Santo Domingo de Silos was not finalized until December 16, 1782.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons