Santa María Magdalena, Córdoba Facts for Kids

St Mary Magdalene Church, Córdoba

The Santa María Magdalena Church (St Mary Magdalene Church) is a beautiful old church located in Córdoba, Spain. It was built in a special style called Mudejar, which mixes Christian and Islamic art. This church is part of the Historic centre of Córdoba, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is named after Mary Magdalene, a friend of Jesus.

Discovering Santa María Magdalena Church
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Discovering Santa María Magdalena Church

A Church with a Long History

The Santa María Magdalena Church was one of the first 12 churches built by King Fernando III. He built these churches after he took control of Córdoba in 1236. This church is in a busy area called La Magdalena, east of the city center. It was so well designed that it became a model for other churches built later. We know its construction was mostly finished by the end of the 1200s.

A Mix of Building Styles

This church is special because it combines different building styles. You can see parts of Romanesque, Gothic, and Mudejar styles. The main entrance is at the west end of the church. Above this entrance, there is a beautiful round window called a rose window.

The side door on the south side is the oldest door in Córdoba. It has unique decorations with pointed diamond shapes. The church also has a tall tower built in the 1600s. This tower gets narrower as it goes higher up.

From Church to Cultural Center

Over many years, the church building has changed a few times. For example, a room called the sacristy was added in the early 1500s. In the 1700s, new plaster ceilings were put in, covering the older wooden ones. These plaster ceilings were later removed.

In 1990, a serious fire damaged the church. After the fire, it was no longer used for church services. Now, the Cajasur bank owns the building. It is used as a place for concerts and other fun cultural events.