San Ginés, Madrid facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Church of San Ginés de Arlés
Native name Spanish: Iglesia de San Ginés de Arlés
Location	Madrid, Spain
Spanish Property of Cultural Interest
Official name: Iglesia de San Ginés de Arlés
Type	Non-movable
Criteria	Monument
Designated	1982
Reference no.	RI-51-0004564
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The Church of San Ginés (in Spanish, Iglesia de San Ginés de Arlés) is one of the oldest and most famous churches in Madrid, the capital of Spain. You can find it on a busy street called Calle Arenal. This church is so ancient that it was mentioned in documents from as far back as the 800s!

The original church was built in a special style called Mudéjar, which was a mix of Spanish and Moorish designs. Today, only the bell tower, or campanile, remains from that first building. The church was rebuilt in 1645 after being damaged.

History of the Church

The bell tower is one of the oldest parts of the church.

The Church of San Ginés was one of the first churches in medieval Madrid. It was built by Mozarabs, who were Christians living in Spain during the time of Muslim rule. The church gets its name from Saint Genesius of Arles (San Ginés de Arlés in Spanish), who is the patron saint of notaries and secretaries.

Because of its long and important history, the Spanish government declared the church a Bien de Interés Cultural (a Landmark of Cultural Importance) in 1982. This means it is a protected historical site.

Architecture and Art

The Fallen Christ sculpture from 1698 by Nicolò Fumo.

If you visit the church today, you'll first see a small courtyard in the front surrounded by a railing. The church's layout is a Latin cross, which means it's shaped like a cross from above. It has a main central aisle, called a nave, and two side aisles.

Over the years, the church has survived several fires. Because of this, it has been rebuilt and repaired many times. This is why very little of the original building is left. The beautiful bell tower, with its pointy slate spire, is a classic example of Madrid-style architecture. In 1870, a covered walkway and the front courtyard were added.

Famous Artworks

Inside, the Church of San Ginés is like a small art museum. It holds amazing works of art by some of Europe's most famous painters and sculptors.

• In the Santísimo Cristo Chapel, you can see art by Alonso Cano and Luca Giordano.
• A famous painting by the artist El Greco, called The Expulsion of the Money-Changers from the Temple, is also in the church. It is usually kept in the main part of the church, protected by a wooden cover.
• In 2009, the church added another masterpiece to its collection: The Lamentation by Michiel Coxie.

The Lamentation by Michiel Coxie is one of the famous paintings in the church.

See also

In Spanish: Iglesia de San Ginés de Arlés (Madrid) para niños

• Catholic Church in Spain
• List of oldest church buildings