Logotipo de la Asociación de Turismo Altiplano de Granada
Logotipo de la Asociación de Turismo Altiplano de Granada
Altiplano Desarrollo Rural

Collegiate Church of Our Lady Saint Mary of Incarnation

The Collegiate Church of Our Lady Saint Mary is the most important religious monument in Baza. It was built in various stages between the 16th and 18th centuries on the remains of the Aljama Mosque. Long ago it was a prestigious functioning collegiate church and cathedral.

In 1529 new work began on the church following a gothic-style project which used the cathedral of Murcia as a model. Unfortunately, in 1531 an earthquake brought to the ground a large part of what had been built, but the altar background and chapels with their ogival arches were saved. A reconstruction project was commissioned to Alonso de Covarrubias, who envisioned a Renaissance temple with three naves with girola and cross rib vaulted ceilings. Work on the sacristy and chapterhouse concluded in 1625.

Many years later, in 1755, an earthquake once again caused serious damage to the building. In 1764, the tower was reconstructed (which had been the minaret of the original mosque). The first three levels of the tower were reinforced and two new octagonal-shaped levels were added, where the bells are housed today.

The building has been protected since 1931 when it was declared the Collegiate Church of Our Lady Mary, Historic-Artistic Monument.

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