Here we are inside the Collegiate Church of San Isidro. Don't you feel like you're inside a treasure chest that's overflowing? It’s the effect of the rich baroque decorations that surround the church's internal structure, which as you can see has an elongated cross shape and only one large nave. As always in Jesuit churches, the chapels are all connected to each other. As I already mentioned, the church's artistic heritage suffered heavy losses in the devastating fire of 1936: imagine what it was like before!
Starting on the right side after the chapel with the popular image of the "Virgen de la Macarena", originally from Seville, the "Jesús del Gran Poder" chapel opens up, which is the most opulent of them all with its beautiful painted pendentives. Continuing along the right side, don't miss the following chapel of San José which is especially appreciated for its paintings.
Once you reach the end of the nave, I suggest admiring the large wooden structure that dominates the altar, which as I mentioned is called a "retablo" in Spain. The center of the altarpiece has the sarcophagus containing the still-intact body of the patron saint, San Isidro, and below that rests an urn with his wife's remains, Santa María de la Cabeza.
FUN FACT: the Collegiate Church of San Isidro is located where the saint's house once stood, and where he had dug a cave and a well. It was said that the water from the well was miraculous and could heal the sick.
Language: English