Iglesia de San Isidoro, Catholic church in Plaza de la Constitución, Oviedo, Spain.
The Iglesia de San Isidoro is a Catholic church on Plaza de la Constitución in central Oviedo, built on a Latin cross plan with a single nave. A separate bell tower stands beside the main building, and four sections of side chapels line the interior walls.
The church was founded in 1576 as part of the Jesuit College of San Matías, and construction went on until 1681, with architect Francisco Menéndez Camina among those who shaped the final building. The long building period left its mark on the style and structure of the church.
The front wall of the church has three niches, each holding a carved figure: San Isidoro, San Antonio de Padua, and the Archangel Gabriel. These sculptures are the first thing visitors notice and immediately tell you who the church is dedicated to.
The church stands right next to the Town Hall in central Oviedo and is easy to reach on foot from most of the city center. Regular religious services take place here, so checking opening times before visiting is a good idea.
The church holds a formal spiritual bond with the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, which means the faithful can receive the same spiritual benefits here as they would in that Roman basilica. Such a link between churches in different countries is quite rare.
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