Glossary of Church Architecture in Andalucia
Types of Churches
Obviously Churches define the architectural styles in the villages of Andalucia. Here are examples of the different types of churches.
Cathedral (Catedral): The main church of a diocese, containing the cathedral (the bishop's throne).
Parroquia: A parish church, serving as the religious heart of a village or city neighborhood.
Ermita (Hermitage): A small chapel, often located on the outskirts of a town or on a hilltop, often dedicated to a specific saint or the Virgin Mary.
Basilica: A title granted by the Pope to certain churches of great historical or religious importance.
Convento and Monasterio: Religious houses for monks or nuns; the churches within these are often open to the public and highly decorated.
Interior Layout of churches in Andalucia
Nave (Nave): The main central part of the church where the congregation sits. Andalusian churches often have three naves (a central one flanked by two lateral ones).
Transept (Crucero): The part of the church that crosses the nave at a right angle, giving the building its "Latin Cross" floor plan.
Apse (Ábside): The semicircular or polygonal protrusion at the end of the church, usually behind the altar.
Capilla Mayor: The "Great Chapel" or main chapel at the head of the church, which houses the high altar and the main altarpiece.
Coro (Choir): A large, often box-like structure in the middle of the central nave (common in Spanish cathedrals) where the clergy would sit to sing.
Sagrario: A chapel or tabernacle specifically for the reservation of the Eucharist (the Blessed Sacrament).
Sacristy (Sacristía): The room where the priest prepares for service and where vestments and sacred vessels are kept.
Camarín: A small, highly decorated, and often elevated room located behind an altar, specifically designed to house a venerated image of a saint or the Virgin Mary.
Crypt (Cripta): An underground chamber, usually beneath the main altar or a chapel, used for burials.
Decorative Features of churches in Andalucia
Retablo (Altarpiece): A massive, often gilded wooden structure behind the altar, filled with sculptures and paintings. The Great Retablo in Seville Cathedral is considered one of the finest in the world.
Artesonado: Exquisite carved wooden ceilings, often featuring geometric patterns, typical of the Mudejar style.
Estipite: A hallmark of Spanish Baroque; it is a pilaster (a flat column) in the shape of a very narrow, upside-down pyramid.
Gospel & Epistle Sides: When facing the altar, the Gospel side is on the left (North) and the Epistle side is on the right (South).
Pulpit (Púlpito): An elevated platform from which the priest would deliver sermons.
Belfry (Campanario): The bell tower. In many Andalusian cities, these were originally the minarets of former mosques, later converted into church towers (like the Giralda in Seville).
Architectural Styles
Mudejar
During the Reconquest of Spain, the Moors continued to build in their own tradition under Christian rule giving rise to the Mudéjar style of architecture. A style unique to the Iberian Peninsula, blending Islamic (Moorish) decorative elements—like intricate brickwork and horseshoe arches—with
Christian architectural forms. Many Andalusian churches are "Gothic-Mudejar" hybrids.
Gothic
At the same time Gothic design was gradually being introduced from France and by the 13th century had begun to emerge in northern Andalucía. Characterized by vertical lines, pointed arches, and high vaulted ceilings. The Seville Cathedral is the world's largest Gothic cathedral.
Plateresque
An early Renaissance style in Spain (late 15th to early 16th century) named for its extremely detailed ornamentation that resembles the work of silversmiths (plateros). Plateresque style was unique to Spain.
Renaissance
From the 16th century there is still much evidence of the golden age. Focused on symmetry, proportion, and classical elements like domes and columns, often seen in the works of architects like Diego de Siloé or Andrés de Vandelvira in Jaén province.
Baroque
Delicate adornment gave way to the richly flowing extravagance of Baroque in the 17th and 18th centuries. A dramatic, highly ornate style that peaked in the 18th century. Andalucía is home to some of the most exuberant Baroque churches in Spain, often featuring "Churrigueresque" elements.
Churrigueresque
An ultra-ornate, "over-the-top" Spanish Baroque style characterized by extreme surface decoration.
Neo-classical Neo-Classicism, a movement in the arts and architecture to return to the more classic lines of the past. A reaction against Baroque, returning to the sobriety of Greek and Roman forms.
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