Church of Virgen de la Paloma and San Pedro el Real, Catholic parish church in Centro district, Madrid, Spain
The Church of Virgen de la Paloma and San Pedro el Real is a red brick Catholic parish church in the Palacio neighborhood of Madrid, built in the Neo-Mudéjar style. Its facades feature arched openings and geometric patterns, while the interior holds altars and religious artworks from the early 20th century.
The building was completed in 1912 by architects Lorenzo Álvarez Capra and Dimas Rodríguez, replacing an older chapel that had stood on the same site. The new construction responded to the growth of the surrounding neighborhood in the early 1900s.
The church is the center of the Virgen de la Paloma festival, held each August in the streets of the Palacio neighborhood. During those days, the surrounding lanes fill with processions, music, and people wearing traditional Madrid dress.
The church sits in the Palacio neighborhood and is easy to reach on foot from central Madrid. Daily masses are held throughout the week, with additional services on Sundays for those who want to attend a service.
A ceremonial float from the 1950s is carried through the streets each August and requires ongoing work to keep its details intact. The Neo-Mudéjar style seen on this building is relatively rare among Madrid churches, most of which were built in other architectural traditions.
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