The
Iglesia de Santa Maria de la Encarnacion is known in English as the Church of Saint Mary of the Alhambra, which is a rather rubbish translation, if you ask me. The church was built on the site of the Alhambra's Great Mosque, following the Renaissance style of a cruciform church. Inside are several Baroque altars, including the main altar. Construction began in 1581 and concluded in 1618.
Ambrosio de Vico was the architect, following (and simplifying) a previous design.
The church still has regularly scheduled Masses and is part of the Granada archdiocese. The interior is not too big but is very impressive.
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| Nave |
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| Main Altar |
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| Altar detail |
The statue in the middle of the altar is called
The Virgin of the Anguish by
Torcuato Ruiz del Peral in the 1750s. It is taken out at Easter and used in procession at the Alhambra. The statue is put in a model of the arches from the Court of Lions made in silver, also on display in the church.
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| Processional throne |
Other side altars include an
Ecce Homo (named after the moment when Pilate presented the scourged Jesus to the crowd), St. Joseph and Jesus, and one to an unidentified bishop.
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| Ecce Homo altar |
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| St. Joseph with the Christ Child |
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| Some bishop? |
The pulpit is another fine, ornate work in the church, with which L poses:
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| Pulpit |
Visiting the church was a nice, quiet moment to relax during our visit to the Alhambra.
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