Iglesia Parroquial de San Gil y Santa Ana - Granada

The Parish Church of San Gil and Santa Ana dominates the main square that bears her name . It is one of the most beautiful places in the city at sunset.

After the conquest of the kingdom of Granada, there was an urgent need for the construction of oratories, hermitages and Christian churches, to accommodate the few parishioners. In the case of the Church of Santa Ana, the authorities chose to reuse an old Arab mosque , that of Al-jama Almanzora, built by the Ziridian king Badis.

Work on the church began in 1537, designed by Diego de Siloé, and was completed in 1548. The tower is a little later and was built around 1563.

The ground plan of the Church of Santa Ana is rectangular, with one nave, five side chapels on either side and a high main chapel, separated from the nave by a toral arch. On the outside is a nice Mudejar tower.

The nave is covered with beautiful decagonal and twelve-sided mouldings. The interior decoration includes works by the most important artists of the school of Granada such as: José de Mora, Risueño, Raxis, Bocanegra,... among others.

The main entrance has a semi-circular arch flanked by Corinthian columns with fluted shafts on a high plinth. Crowned by three niches depicting Saint Anne, Mary Jocobi and Mary Salome, surmounted by a medallion depicting the Virgin and Child.

As a curiosity, it is worth noting that Mariana Pineda was married in this church in the 19th century. Also, the Church of Santa Ana had a monopoly on all responsos in Granada for centuries, until 1960, and was the departure point for funerals , arriving at the cemetery via the Carrera del Darro.

It is impressive to visit Santa Ana during Holy Week and see how the two processional chariots, the statue of Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza , on Maundy Tuesday, and the statue of Nuestro Padre Jesús del Gran Poder , pass through the portico with great effort leave the church.

willem vandenameele