Church of Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza explained

Church of Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza
Native Name:Iglesia Parroquial de Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza
Native Language:Spanish
Coordinates:38.7275°N -2.0041°W
Location:Peñas de San Pedro, Spain
Designation1:Spain
Designation1 Offname:Iglesia Parroquial de Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza
Designation1 Type:Non-movable
Designation1 Criteria:Monument
Designation1 Date:1978
Designation1 Number:RI-51-0004305

The Church of Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza (Spanish: Iglesia Parroquial de Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza) is an 18th-century, Roman Catholic parish church located in Peñas de San Pedro, province of Albacete, autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha, Spain.

The church was dedicated to Santa María de la Mayor Esperanza y Santa Librada Mártir. Construction began in 1716 under the maestro mayor Bartolomé de la Cruz Valdés, and the architect Cosme Carreras. The church was consecrated in 1747, but the tower, dome, and chapels were not complete till 1797.

The cupula has spandrels depicting the four Fathers of the Catholic church: saints Augustine, Ambrose, Gregory, and Jerome. Above among the saints are depicted Santas Quiteria and Librada and the archangels Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel. The lunettes of the presbytery depict St Thomas Villanova and San Fulgencio. The main portal is carved in baroque style and completed in 1740s.

The interior has a number of carved wooden polychrome statues mainly by Juan de Gea and Ignacio Castell. The main retablo was also designed and carved by these artists, and gilded by Francisco and Gregorio Sánchez, with paintings with stories of the New Testament by Bautista Suñer.[1]

It was declared Bien de Interés Cultural in 1978.

Notes and References

  1. http://www.parroquiapenasdesanpedro.org/historia.php Parish of Peñas de San Pedro