San Ginés, Madrid

The church of San Ginés (Spanish: iglesia de San Ginés de Arlés) in Madrid, is one of the oldest churches in that city.[1] It is situated on the Calle Arenal. References to it appear in documents dating from the ninth century. Originally built in Mudéjar style (of the structure only the campanile survives), it was rebuilt in 1645.

Church of San Ginés de Arlés
Native name
Spanish: Iglesia de San Ginés de Arlés
LocationMadrid, Spain
Coordinates40.41713°N 3.70691°W / 40.41713; -3.70691
Official nameIglesia de San Ginés de Arlés
TypeNon-movable
CriteriaMonument
Designated1982
Reference no.RI-51-0004564
Location of Church of San Ginés de Arlés in Spain

History
Belfry of the San Ginés Church.

The church was one of the churches of the medieval Madrid, of Mozarab origin, from between the 12th and 13th centuries, and its name comes from the fact that it was dedicated to the patron saint of notaries and secretaries, Saint Genesius of Arles (San Ginés de Arlés).[2]

Fallen Christ (1698), designed by Nicolò Fumo.

It was declared Bien de Interés Cultural in 1982.

Description

The church is preceded by an atrium enclosed by railings. It has a Latin cross plan, with a nave and two aisles separated by semicircular arches and several side chapels and the altarpieces belong to the Neoclassical-Romantic school. It was, however, reconstructed after suffering several fires, so few remnants of the original church, such as the bell-tower, remain. In 1870, the loggia and atrium were added. The tower has a beautiful Madrid-style slate spire that incorporates great verticality into the construction.

In the Santísimo Cristo Chapel there are artworks by Alonso Cano, Luca Giordano and el Greco.

In fact, the painting by El Greco is not to be found in the chapel of the Santísimo, it is situated in the main church but covered by wood and it is only on display on Saturdays from 11.30 am to noon. In 2009 the church acquired The lamentation by Michiel Coxie.[3]

The lamentation by Michiel Coxie

Notes

Lope de Vega, the dramatist (playwright) and writer, married there, while poet Francisco de Quevedo, was baptized there. The death certificate of Tomás Luis de Victoria can also be found in its archives.

One of the most curious items on display is a stuffed crocodile, which is said to have been brought over from the Americas during the reign of the Catholic Monarchs.

References
  1. ARTEHISTORIA - Genios de la Pintura - Ficha Iglesia de San Ginés (Madrid)
  2. MADRID HISTÓRICO - Historia
  3. Ana Diéguez Rodríguez, Más precisiones sobre algunas obras de Michael Coxcie en España: la Lamentación sobre lienzo de El Escorial y la Resurrección de Cristo del antiguo convento de los Agustinos de Medina del Campo (Valladolid) Libros de la Corte, ISSN-e 1989-6425, Nº. 14, 2017, pp. 122-135 (in Spanish)
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