The Iglesia de Santiago in Jumilla

The Iglesia de Santiago, the main parish church of Jumilla in the Region of Murcia, is one of the city's most important architectural monuments. It is noted for its architectural beauty and rich interior imagery, serving as a significant point of interest in the Diocese of Cartagena.

The construction of this temple coincides with the movement of the inhabitants of the city from the castle hill to the valley, marking a period of economic growth for Jumilla. Construction began in the 15th century, with some authors dating the start to 1447 and others to 1454. The first phase completed the central nave and side chapels, which can be seen externally in the flying buttresses.

Work continued on the header, the old sacristy, the almshouse, and the main south door. After a period of more than a century without progress, a new bell tower was addressed in the 18th century. Two bodies of the tower were built using existing load-bearing walls, which were too weak and caused construction to stop again. In 1728, work was ordered to be completed, with further expansions continuing until the early 19th century.

The interior features a central nave composed of four sections of rib vaulting over eight composite pillars. The vault ribs show marked reflections with beautifully polychromed seals, which some specialists suggest may have Mudejar inspiration. The main altarpiece is a 16th-century work by the Ayala brothers, preserving most of its original sculptures, including the figure of the Apostle Santiago.

The central dome and the transept open to both sides of the altar, resting on two semi-domes that recall the scallop shells of Santiago. The old chapel currently houses various processional images, including works by José Planes and Ignacio Pinazo, among others.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons