The architecture of the Iglesia de Santiago el Real

The Iglesia de Santiago el Real in Medina del Campo is a significant religious structure that serves as a guardian of the grave of the Marquis of the Ensenada, a major altarpiece, and two sumptuous reliquaries. While a church with the title of Santiago existed as early as 1177, it was relocated to the current building in 1770. This building was originally constructed as a church for the Jesuit novitiate and was dedicated to San Pedro and San Pablo.

The Jesuits chose Medina del Campo as a prosperous location for their order. Rodrigo de Dueñas supported their arrival by granting them the use of several houses, which quickly became insufficient for their pastoral work. Consequently, the money-changer purchased and ceded land in front of the Santiago square so the Company could build a college. The design was handled by the architect of the order Fr. Bartolomé de Bustamante, and the first stone was solemnly laid in 1553 by San Francisco de Borja, with the church opening for worship ten years later.

Built under the patronage of Pedro Cuadrado and Francisca Manjón, the exterior features a stone base and brick walls with simple arched doorways. The main portal displays the shield of the Company and the patrons. Following the expulsion of the Jesuits and the building's conversion into a parish with the name 'Real', the shield of Carlos III was placed at the top. In 1799, a tower was constructed to house the bells, replacing a primitive bell-gable.

Internally, the church houses a diverse collection of artworks. The main altarpiece, created starting in 1595, features scenes from the infancy of Jesus and sculptures of the four Doctors of the Church. The nave walls are covered with various reliquaries, including anthropomorphic figures from 1673 representing the first members of the Company raised to the altars and others of special significance for the order. The space also holds an ivory crucifix from the early 18th century and an namban art music stand in Japanese lacquer from the late 16th century.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons