San Lorenzo Arch

Published on 03/02/2014

Jaén (Comarca Metropolitana de Jaén)

Monuments

One of the jewels of the city’s heritage and, paradoxically, very little known.
It is the only trace left of the old Church of San Lorenzo, built between the 13th and 14th centuries and demolished in 1825.
It was declared a “National Monument” by Royal Order in October 1877, after coming close to being demolished altogether.
Its restoration began in 1969 under the Jaén architect Luis Berges. Since 1982 the association “Amigos de San Antón” has looked after the monument.
Inside there is a chapel with a brick vault whose walls are covered with a beautiful Mudéjar tiled dado and plasterwork.
Upstairs there is a large hall with a pointed brick dome, where we can also see a plasterwork arch and several noble coats of arms.

More about this place…

On Calle Almendros Aguilar, in the heart of the old town of Jaén, the San Lorenzo Arch is one of the jewels of the city’s heritage. It was part of the ancient church of San Lorenzo, built between the 13th and 14th centuries and demolished in 1825. Inside there is a chapel with a brick vault whose walls are covered with a beautiful Mudéjar tiled dado and plasterwork. Upstairs there is a large hall with a pointed brick dome, where we can also see a plasterwork arch and several noble coats of arms. Tradition has it that the body of King Ferdinand IV, who died in Jaén on 7 September 1312, lay in state here.