Church of Santiago, Cañete

The only parish church left

Santiago church is the only one of Cañete’s parish churches still standing. It was probably built in the 12th or 13th century, but only a few Gothic remains inside and in the doorway survive from that time. Almost everything visible dates from the 17th and 18th centuries, in Cuenca’s rural Baroque style, built between 1600 and 1760 when people and money were scarce.

A church on the wall

It has a nave and two aisles, very broad but low for their width because of limited resources, with brick groin vaults on strong piers. The doorway is a very wide flat arch with a central mullion, and the well-designed tower is not very tall. An unusual feature: it faces from north to south.

It stands at the town’s south-eastern corner, and its east and south walls are two stretches of the Muslim town wall, joined by a round tower. It could only be built against it once the wall had lost its military role. It once adjoined the now vanished palace of the Hurtado de Mendoza family, lords and later marquises of Cañete. The vaults exert more thrust than the building can withstand: the entire west wall has given way and visibly leans outwards.

Plan your visit

Before you travel

Ask the town council when it is open.

Combine with

The church of San Julián and the Plaza Mayor.