Iglesia Parroquial
This colonial-style church dates from 1793 the period when the Nuevas Poblaciones were founded in this area, including La Carolina. It was built on the site of the original chapel, erected by order of King Alfonso VIII to celebrate the victory of the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in 1212 - the chapel housed trophies from the battle. On the church wall you can see a bas-relief sandstone tablet commissioned by King Charles IV some years after the new church was built, to ensure the old chapel and the reason for its existence would not be forgotten.
This church is simple with a classical white façade. Above the entrance is a semicircular arch on imposts (blocks on which an arch rests) flanked by Tuscan style pilasters (slightly projecting ornamental column built into a wall). The entrance is capped by a front-facing triangular masonry. Slightly higher up are two round windows with stained-glass image of Empress Santa Elena. At the side are two Doric columns (one of three ancient Greek orders; the others were Ionic and Corinthian).
Above the front-facing cornice (horizontal crowning decorative mounding) is a sandstone steeple with three pyramid-shaped layers bearing pinnacles (small spires) at each end. In the centre are two arches for the bells.
Inside a single aisle and high dome-shaped plastered ceiling are coupled by double half-moon shapes on both sides, and several burial niches. On the right are a chapel and a sacristy (room for keeping vestments - church robes). There is an entrance to the rectory on the left.
Location
Located in Plaza Constitución.