Santa Engracia Church

It was destroyed by the bombing of 1808. It was built over the former Roman – Christian necropolis that housed the remains of Santa Engracia and of other eighteen martyrs from the III and IV Centuries and it was the place where the two Paleochristian marble sarcophaguses from the IV Century were found and that today are kept in the crypt.

The Monastery Jerónimo de Santa Engracia was founded by Juan II de Aragón. From the old temple only the Plateresque façade has survived. It is a façade- altarpiece that reflects the royal sponsorship of the monastery and its origin of martyrdom. The image of Santa Engracia – today missing- dominated the entrance from the mullion of the door.

The royal patronage is reflected in the coats of arms that are located in the hairnet of the arch of access and the images of the Catholic Kings in kneeling position, Fernando and Isabel, accompanied by San Juan Bautista and Santa Catalina de Alejandría, as well as by the founders of the Order, San Jerónimo y Santa Paula, flanking the Virgin enthroned in the centre.

The Calvary crowns the group with the Faith and the Hope on both sides.