Salvador Church is a 17th- and 18th-century baroque masterpiece built on the remains of the great Mosque of Muslim Seville and on a site once occupied by Roman and Phoenician temples. It is the second-largest church in the city after the cathedral and contains centuries-old sculptures and paintings by Sevillian artists. Survey the grand façade and tour the expansive interior on your visit to Salvador Church.
Study the adornments, including busts of St. Peter and St. Paul, that decorate the three entrances of the main façade. Walk over to the bell tower which incorporates the base of the old minaret. Wander through the church’s vast rectangular interior to view the many richly gilded altarpieces.
The principal highlight of Salvador Church is The Transfiguration of Christ, an outstanding 18th-century baroque-style altarpiece that soars above the main altar. It was created by architect and sculptor Cayetano de Acosta, who lived in Seville from a young age. The altarpiece features a depiction of one of the moments when Jesus revealed his divinity.
Equally impressive is the monumental altarpiece by the same artist in the sacramental chapel. Also here is the Christ of the Passion, a beautiful carving from around 1619. This statue is paraded around the streets during the Thursday before Easter Sunday.
Look over The Virgin of the Waters altarpiece, an 18th-century work that encompasses a 13th-century statue of the Virgin Mary. View the 16th-century sculpture in polychrome wood of St. Christopher. Other church highlights include the baroque 18th-century organ and the remains of choir stalls also from the 18th century.
Go for a stroll around the Patio de Los Naranjos, so called because of its orange trees. This open-air space was part of the original mosque.
Salvador Church sits in Salvador Plaza in the historical center of Seville. The church is open daily for tours. Save time by buying admission tickets online consider getting a combined ticket which includes entry to the cathedral and the Giralda bell tower. Disabled visitors, the unemployed and accompanied children under the age of 14 get in for free.
Be sure to dress appropriately for your visit to this religious site. You can walk to Salvador Church from nearby attractions such as Seville Town Hall and the Flamenco Museum.
