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Church of San Miguel Bajo

The Church of Santa María de la Aurora and San Miguel, known as San Miguel Bajo, stands on the site of the Zirid palace complex of the Qasaba Qadima and of a mosque. After the conquest of 1492 the building continued as a mosque for the Mudéjar population and became a parish in 1501. The mosque was then demolished, except for the cistern, and between 1528 and 1577 the church was built in two phases: the first Mudéjar, with wooden ceilings, and the second Renaissance. It is of brick and stone, with a white plaster façade, a single nave, and its bell tower recalls the minaret. The doorways are attributed to Diego de Siloé. The 13th-century cistern is still embedded in the façade facing the little square, with an outer recess in the shape of an alfiz. It closed in 1842 for lack of worshippers and is now the seat of a brotherhood. It has Mass on Sundays and opens for limited hours on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Things to do at Church of San Miguel Bajo: 4 missions

• See the Mudéjar wooden ceiling insideIf it coincides with opening hours, go in and look up at the wooden ceilings of the first phase.
• Compare the bell tower with a minaretStep back until you can see the whole bell tower and check why it recalls the minaret of the mosque that once stood here.
• Study the doorway on the little squareLook at the doorway facing the square, attributed to Diego de Siloé, and notice the Corinthian pilasters.
• Find the cistern of the old mosqueOn the façade facing the little square, find the cistern embedded in the wall and its outer alfiz-shaped recess.

Near Church of San Miguel Bajo

Source: Wikipedia - Church of San Miguel Bajo