The Parish of San Nicolás de Bari

In the heart of the historic center of Murcia stands the parish of San Nicolás de Bari. Its history dates back to the 1266 conquest of the city, where the original church was situated on a major communication axis of the old medina. The site was already recorded as a parish in 1272, located on a street that would eventually bear its name.

The previous building is believed to have had Mudéjar features with a Mannerist facade constructed in 1616. However, general deterioration forced an urgent demolition in the 18th century. Reconstruction began in 1736 with the financial support of Diego Mateo Zapata, a local doctor and philosopher. The work was finished in 1743, leaving behind a prominent example of Murcian Baroque architecture.

Inside, the Baroque main altarpiece is believed to have been constructed according to the designs of Jaime Bort, as its design recalls the central body of the Murcia Cathedral facade by the same author. The church also houses notable sculptures, including an 18th-century image of the Cristo del Amparo and various other sacred works from the 17th and 19th centuries.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons