Iglesia de la Purísima Concepción, Melilla, Catholic church in Old Melilla, Spain
The Real y Pontificia Iglesia de la Purísima Concepción is a church building with three naves supported by Tuscan columns and containing several side chapels with ornate altarpieces. The interior displays a classical spatial arrangement typical of Spanish churches from this era.
Construction of the church began in 1556 to replace the earlier Ermita de la Victoria as the city's main temple. Following the 1755 earthquake, the building underwent major renovation work that shaped its present form.
The church houses the statue of Our Lady of Victory, the crowned patroness of Melilla, and serves as the main prayer house for local residents. It remains a central gathering place in the city's religious life, where the community comes together for important occasions.
The building is located in Old Melilla on Calle Miguel Acosta 7 and is easily reached on foot. Since the church is currently undergoing renovation work, visitors should check opening times and possible access restrictions in advance.
Until 1797, the church was the only place with a cemetery in Melilla and contained crypts belonging to different brotherhoods. Important figures from the city's history were buried in these underground spaces.
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