The Nave of Juan Núñez Dávila and the Chapel of Nuestra Señora de las Vacas

Located in the Plaza de las Vacas, south of the city of Ávila, the church of Nuestra Señora de las Vacas is a Catholic building with the status of a cultural property of interest since 1992. While some authors suggest its origins could date back to times before the 13th century, it belonged to the Order of the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem in the mid-13th century. By the 15th century, the original building was in ruins.

The temple consists of two clearly differentiated parts: the nave and the chapel major. The nave, built between 1460 and 1469 by Juan Núñez Dávila, features walls that alternate rammed earth and brick in the panels with masonry and granite ashlar in the base and corners. A simple portal provides access to the temple, sheltered by a porch over four columns, with a brick bell-gable featuring three openings. The chapel major is herreriana, characterized by great perfection and volume symmetry.

It has a square plan with two thermal windows open on the north and south walls, with pilasters reinforcing the angles of the chapel. Externally, it is finished with a balustrade and typical Escurialense balls, and internally, it is covered with a dome over pendentives decorated with high-relief medallions of the four evangelists. To the south of the chapel major, the sacristy of the same style and era is attached, and there are also two small later chapels attached to the nave.

The building is the seat of the Patronato de la Santísima Trinidad, Santísimo Cristo de la Ilusión y Nuestra señora de las Vacas. It is considered by many the oldest patronage created whose designation of patronage remains valid today, having been founded in 1258 under the name Patronato de la Santísima Trinidad, prior to its merger with the Patronato de Nuestra señora de las Vacas.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons