Altars and Chapels of Ferdinand church of Saint Nicholas of La Villa, Cordoba (Spain)

Saint Nicholas of La Villa: Altars and Chapels

        We begin our tour of the nave of the gospel, specifically in the Saint Rita Altar, Apse of the Gospel Sideby Jorge Mexía, author of much of the altarpieces for the church. Located next to the door that gives access to the tower, this little altarpiece was made with golden wood and has only one street and two parts, with solomonic columns and vegetable decorations. Similar is the Saint Joseph Altar, located in the apse of the gospel, the only difference is that it presides over a polychrome wooden sculpture of Saint Joseph and a the other is Saint Rita.
        Of special interest is the Baptism chapel, designed by Hernán Ruiz II the Saint and decorated by Sebastián de PeñarroyaEntrance to the "Baptism Chapel" between 1540 and 1555. The squared space is covered by a big vault with an ova on groins where the blue, gold and rose ressemble to the heaven world, where arises the Coronation of the Virgin Mary. The groins are decorated by the four evangelists and a wonderful Baptism of Christ.
        The Apse of the Gospel is presided by a wonderful altarpiece, done in golden wood, by Juan Prieto in 1713, and it was renewed by Alonso Gómez de Sandoval in 1781. It is a little altar done in polychromated and golden wood with three streets and two parts, where the sculpture of Saint Francis of Paola is the unique in the altarpiece, that appears with the stick of hermit and lookingRelief of the "Baptism of Christ" in the Baptism Chapel towards the sky in attitude of supplication. Next we find Saint Bartholomew, portrayed at the time of his martyrdom. On both sides we find Saint Joseph with the Child and Saint Martin, which is sharing his cloak with a beggar. All these paintings were done in the middle of the XVIII Century by Sebastián Martínez, like the Calvary that crowns the whole.
        In the Main Altar there is a wonderful altarpiece made at the beginning of the XVIII Century by Jorge Mexía that substituted one very deteriorated. It was made in goldenMain Altar wood, it is divided in three streets and two parts, the solomonic column is used and it fit perfectly to the apse. A statue presides the complex, Saint Nicholas of Bari , which is represented with the miter and crosier of a bishop, next there are Saint Rapael Archangel and Saint Michael Archangel. In the second part, being closer when we ascend to the key of the vault, and crowning it there is a wonderful Calvary by Manuel Gómez y Góngora, made in 1801.
        In the Apse of the Epistol we find another altarpiece, similar to that of the apse of the Gospel, only now there are notNave of the Epistle Side sculptures, Altar of Our Lady of Bethlehem, by Jorge Mexía. This altarpiece is made in golden and polychromatic wood, is decorated by five paintings, the case of Our Lady of Bethlehem, a Virgin and Child who presides the altar and give name. Below there is the Adoration of Three Wise Men, next the Annunciation of Mary and the Visitation of Mary to Saint Elizabeth. The altarpiece is crowned by an Saint Michael Archangel, that it is thought it was made by Acisclo Antonio Palomino.
        Next to the Epistol Apse there is the Altar of Souls that keeps the images of Our Father Jesus of the Sentence, by the cordoban sculpter Juan Martínez Cerrillo, 1945, and Holy Mary of Grace and Protection, anonimous image of the XVII Century, both belonging to the Brotherhood of the Sentence, procession the evening of Holy Monday on the streets of our city.

Text: J.A.S.C.

Traslated by Sara Moretti