Real Parish of San Lorenzo Mártir de Cordoba

The Church of San Lorenzo is one of the so-called Fernandine churches in Cordoba.

It was erected on the site of a former mosque that replaced an older Visigothic church. The church was built in the second half of the 13th century , probably between 1244 and 1300.

In 1687 there was a great fire that caused great damage to the temple, so the wall paintings were covered to preserve them and baroque plaster vaults were built. It was not until several centuries later, in 1963, that the church was thoroughly restored to regain its former Gothic-Mudejar appearance, removing the Baroque vaults and restoring the old 14th-century murals and small rose window, which had remained hidden. The solid Arab minaret was converted into a Renaissance tower by Hernán Ruiz el Joven.

The apse preserves quality paintings in Italian Gothic style from the 14th century depicting seven scenes from the life of Christ : in the center the crucifixion and on the sides the kiss of Judas, the trial of Pilate, Christ carrying the cross, the Descent from the Cross, Burial and Resurrection. Below that figures of prophets and saints with gilded aureoles. Remarkable is the decoration that imitates the Byzantine tile decoration.

Also important is the large Gothic-Mudejar rose window , one of the best in churches of the period, which decorates the upper part of the facade. The coffered ceiling is Mudejar and later Renaissance. Worth mentioning is the old main altarpiece from the 17th century, which is decorated with canvases depicting the life of San Lorenzo.

Willem Vandenameele