Iglesia Mayor de la Encarnación, Gothic-Mudéjar church in Loja, Spain.
Iglesia Mayor de la Encarnación is a Gothic-Mudéjar church with a single nave crossed by transverse arches leading to side chapels. The interior features pointed arches supporting rib vaults and stained glass windows that frame the spaces between the chapels.
Construction began in 1491 on the site of a former Moorish mosque, with initial work completed in 1508 under the direction of Málaga's bishop Pedro Díaz de Toledo. This transformation marked the religious shift following the Reconquista.
The church displays a Renaissance altarpiece created by Miguel Sánchez and Pedro Machuca, along with a sixteenth-century baptismal font showing skilled craftsmanship. These works shape the interior experience and reflect the artistic traditions of the region.
Access to the interior is available during mass times, which generally occur on weekday evenings while Sunday services are held at multiple times throughout the day. Planning your visit around these service schedules will ensure you can explore the interior properly.
The church incorporates an altar stone from the fifth century that originated from an early Christian basilica dedicated to St Peter and St Paul, discovered in Loja's Gibalto mountains. This ancient artifact connects the building to the region's earliest Christian layers.
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