★★★★★ 5.0
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San Cayetano Church
That Baroque facade in front of you survived the impossible. July nineteenth, 1936... Spanish Civil War... this church burned completely. Only the stonework remained. Everything inside was rebuilt in 1961 by architect Juan de Haro Piñar. You're standing before a 300-year-old shell with a brand new soul. The facade was designed by Pedro de Ribiera in 1722... the same architect who built Madrid's Toledo Bridge. Construction started back in 1669 under Marcos López, shaped across decades by José de Churriguera into this Baroque masterpiece. Look at those Corinthian pilasters inside. They frame a dome with remarkable light... extraordinary for a church built before electricity even existed. The massive gold altar catches everyone's eye, but here's what locals know: this church was once divided into apartments during harder times. On Calle de Embajadores, even sacred spaces in Lavapiés find new lives. The facade looks weathered and faded. But inside... it's pure rebirth. That's the real story this place tells.
Did You Know?
- : The Church of San Cayetano was almost completely destroyed during the Spanish Civil War on July 19, 1936, when it was gutted by fire; only its Baroque facade survived, and the church was later rebuilt in the 1960s, making it a symbol of resilience and renewal in Madrid.
- The church's famous sacristy, constructed between 1727 and 1764 by Luis de Arévalo and F. Manuel Vásquez, is considered a masterpiece of late Baroque art, featuring intricate woodwork and ornate decoration that reflect the peak of Spanish craftsmanship.
- San Cayetano Church is the heart of Madrid's August festivities, especially the celebration of San Cayetano, when locals gather along Embajadores Street for processions, music, and traditional food, turning the area into a vibrant cultural hub each year.