The church of Santa María in Mojácar
The church-fortress in old Mojácar dates from the 16th century
The parish church of Santa María in Mojácar is to be found in the upper part of the town in Plaza del Parterre, the site of a Moorish burial ground in the Early Middle Ages.
Built in 1560, just 68 years after the expulsion of the Moors from Spain, it is a strongly fortified structure and occupies the location which was previously home to the mosque of the settlement. Having been taken over by the Christians it served a dual function, meeting both the religious and defensive needs of the community.
Inside the building the look is far more modern, having been created as recently as the 1980s by German painter Michael Sucker, who lived in the municipality for nine years. The most important religious art are the images of the Virgen del Rosario and San Agustín, both of whom are patrons of Mojácar.
The building has two towers and the only nave has a vaulted ceiling resting on transverse arches.
During the restoration of the church in the last century Moorish burials and ceramics were discovered both inside and outside the building, and under the patio the remains of terra sigillata were found. The restoration included the creation of a new altar screen, replacing the one which had been destroyed during the Spanish Civil War (1936-39).
Address: Plaza Iglesia, 04638 Mojácar (click for map)
Images: mojacar.es
