Church of Santa Maria de la Mesa - Zahara - Andalusia

Construction of the new church of Zahara started in 1742 .

The church exemplifies the Andalusian style of religious architecture in the second half of the 18th century, which coincides with the highly decorated and heavily ornamented style of the height of the Baroque and the early beginnings of the Neoclassical style.

The exterior of the church shows an architectural structure entirely in the style of the ancient basilicas with a striking dome. The facade around the main entrance door has rich ornamentation and dynamic lines. The bell tower consists of two parts: the tower and the belfry.

The interior of the church consists of the main chapel and two side chapels . The altarpiece is beautifully carved in wood. It is full of decorations and glittering gilt.

There is an exceptional 18th century sculpture of Saint María de la Mesa , the saint to whom the church is dedicated. The virgin stands and carries the Child on her left arm, holding a fruit or flower in her right hand.

In the aisles are statues of Saint Simon and Saint Judas Tadeo , patron saints of the city because both saints fell on the same date (28 October 1483) when the fortress and the city of Zahara were captured from the Muslims.

Willem Vandenameele