Route of the Fernandine Churches of Cordoba

The Route of the Fernandine Churches consists of a tour to know the churches that Fernando III the Saint ordered to be built between the middle of the 13th century and the beginning of the 14th century.

The so-called Fernandine Churches are spread throughout the city of Cordoba. There are currently ten of them and their importance lies in the fact that they were built on top of previous constructions such as mosques, after the reconquest.

The function of these churches was to be spiritual centers, and also to be the administrative centers of the city, being nuclei of repopulation of the neighborhoods in which the city was divided.

These churches have different opening hours, in winter we can visit them from 10:00 – 14:00 and 15:00 – 18:00 and in summer from 9:00 – 15:00 and 17:00 – 19:00.

Our tour will begin at the Church of San Francisco, near the Rivera de Cordoba and continue with the Church of San Pedro, Church of Santiago Apostle, Church of the Magdalena, Church of San Lorenzo, Church of Santa Marina, San Andres, Church of San Pablo, Church of San Miguel and finally end at the Church of San Nicolas located in the Boulevard of Gran Capitan.

San Francisco Church

Church located near the Rivera, we can access by San Fernando street, surrounded by an area of narrow streets. From the thirteenth century, with baroque style remodeling. It has undergone several restorations over time. It highlights its main entrance, made of white marble and baroque aesthetics where we observe an image of Fernando III the Saint.

St. Peter’s Church

It is located near the Plaza de la Corredera, has undergone several reforms that hide some of its original features. Two of its doorways have been preserved original of medieval origin and also the body of the tower.

The most relevant interventions are the main façade by Hernán Ruiz II in the 16th century, and the construction of the sacristy in the 17th century by Juan de Ochoa. In the interior, the main altarpiece, an 18th century work by Negrete, and the altarpiece of the Chapel of the Martyrs, the work of Alonso Gómez de Sandoval, stand out.

Church of Santiago Apostle

This church is located on Agustín Moreno Street, despite numerous destructions due to fire and collapse of the nave, it has reached us in good condition and has retained much of its structure as the main facade, the tower or the side facade of the epistle, thanks to the restoration of 1990.

Magdalena Church

This temple is one of the first to be built by order of Fernando III, an example of the other buildings and located near the neighborhood of San Lorenzo. Its style mixes Gothic, Romanesque and Mudejar. The most outstanding entrance of the church is the right of the side ones, which uses for its decoration diamond point. The main entrance has a large rose window.

San Lorenzo Church

Located in the neighborhood of San Lorenzo, built on an old minaret, it stands out for a large rose window next to its bell tower. San Lorenzo stands out as one of the jewels of medieval architecture in Cordoba. The entrance is composed of three arcaded arches. Its chancel is painted with Italogothic paintings, and the main altarpiece is Baroque.

Santa Marina Church

This church is located in the Plaza del Conde de Priego. It is the largest in Cordoba and its construction lasted more than a century, beginning in the XIII century and ending in the XIV century. The interior is composed of three naves where it combines the late Romanesque, Gothic and Mudejar styles and also has elements of later centuries, such as the Renaissance style tower and the tabernacle.

St. Andrew’s Church

The church of San Andrés is located near Realejo Street, in the Plaza de San Andrés. There are indications that it was built over a Visigoth basilica. On its facade the coat of arms of Bishop Siuri stands out on the main door.

A church with an altarpiece of baroque origin and somewhat ostentatious, the work of Pedro Luque Cornejo with a large number of canvases with high value, some of them by Antonio del Castillo.

St. Paul’s Church

It is located in front of the City Hall of Cordoba, in Capitulares Street. Built between the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, but with major reforms of the eighteenth century.

In its facade stands out the façade with two Solomonic columns. Inside, we can see a rose window similar to that of the church of San Lorenzo, this time in white stone, the coffered ceiling with Mudejar decoration and the image of Nuestra Señora de las Angustias, the main altarpiece and the vaulted building that are possibly remains. Another of the outstanding features of this work is its carillon, one of the best preserved in Spain.

San Miguel Church

It is located very close to the Plaza de las Tendillas and Cruz Conde street, its aesthetics is medieval Gothic with Baroque remodeling. Its main facade has a large rose window of intertwined columns. In its interior, divided by pillars in three naves, in its decoration highlights the marble altarpiece of the eighteenth century, some baroque carvings that are still preserved and canvases of great value.

St. Nicholas Church

Located at the end of the Gran Capitán Boulevard. Founded in the thirteenth century and rebuilt in the fifteenth century following a Gothic-Mudejar aesthetic. It has a polygonal tower and its bell tower built on a minaret. In its interior the Chapel of the Baptism of baroque style and the Eucharistic urn of Damián de Castro stand out.

Where are the Fernandine Churches of Cordoba?

How to get to the Fernandine Churches of Cordoba

The Fernandine Churches are scattered throughout the city, with the route we offer you can make the tour on foot. In addition there are multiple bus and cab stops that can make the journey more enjoyable.

To begin our route we must move to San Fernando Street, where we will start visiting the Church of San Francisco. To reach it we can get there by cab, walking or by bus using the Aucorsa lines 3, 7 and 12.

After visiting our first Fernandina Church we will follow the route on foot with the map that has been provided in the previous section or we also have the option of using the Aucorsa C2 line that will facilitate the arrival to several of these churches.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Fernandine Churches of Cordoba