IGLESIA DE SAN JOSÉ
This religious monument dates from the 17th century, and
was originally part of a Carmelite convent. The cupola features
preserved canvases painted by a disciple of Bartolomé Murillo.
The church is constructed on a Latin cross plan, with a central
nave, transept and two lateral side chapels separated from
transept and nave by semi-circular arches. At the foot of
the nave is the main entrance and the choir.
The apse is of testero (shell)
plan and has three vaulted niches, the central niche with
the Virgen del Carmen, and above that, a beautiful canvas
of the Inmaculada, represented in the manner of the vision
seen by Beatriz de Silva in the 16th century; that is, with
a white tunic and blue cape, surrounded by cherubs, some
of them symbols alluding to the Immaculate Conception.
In the transept there is a cupola over curvilinear triangle
supports decorated below with representations of the Disciples.
Address: C/ San José, 30
Tel: 956132010
IGLESIA DE SAN JUAN.
This 18th century church was built over the foundations
of an earlier Arabic mezquita, conserving some Mudéjar
arches in the tower. The church is on a quadratic plan, with
three naves, the central nave higher and wider than its neighbours,
and covered by a semi-circular vaulted ceiling. Access to
the apse is via a step. The most interesting detail to point
out is the tower, also on a quadratic plan and divided into
various levels, the higher part with jointed corners with
semi-freestanding pilasters. It has slit openings in each
face. The lower part retains a restored brick Moorish
arch. It is now the home of the local youth culture centre,
the Centro Cultural Juvenil.
Adress: C/ José Mª Jiménez,
s/n.
Tel: 956132010
IGLESIA PARROQUIAL DE NTRA. SRA. DE LA ENCARNACIÓN.
 This
church dates from the early decades of the 17th century,
and was originally of Mudéjar, Arabic-Spanish, design.
It was reconstructed in the 18th century, after its partial
destruction by French armies during the War of Independence
and the first Civil War. Only a small chapel remains from
the original Mudéjar
bulding.
It has a Latin cross plan with three naves. The central
nave is covered with a vaulted ceiling reinforced with belted ‘perpiaño’ arches
that are divided in various sections. The lateral naves
are supported by dintels and separated at the centre
by a semicircular arch,
supported on pillars, with semi-freestanding pilasters whose
Corinthian capitals are outstanding in the architectural
plan for their gold colouring. These pillars also have jointed
corners and are supported at floor
level by bases and pedestals.
The apse is covered in a similar fashion to the central
nave by a vaulted roof and is of testero (shell) plan,
but lacks a central altarpiece. The apses of the lateral
naves
are covered with decorated vaulted ceilings. In the transept
there is a cupola above curvilinear triangular supports.
At the entrance to the church, we also see the two entrance
doors that coincide with the lateral naves and in the centre
is a baptismal font and the high choir.
In this church there also remain examples of religious sculpture
from its era: a representation of the Virgen del Rosario,
a figure of San Antonio and an image of San Atanasio made
in 1602 by icon-maker Amaro Velásquez.
Adress: Pza.
de España, 6.
Tel: 956132010
ERMITA DE LOS ÁNGELES
Hermitage, or chapel, built in the 20th century.
Regarded as a fairly recent addition to Grazalema’s
ecclestiastical architecture, set on the outskirts of the
town, in an area of great natural beauty at the feet of the
mountains: it comprises a small precinct or area covered
with a saddle or gable roof, with a Gothic access porch and
a small belfry completing the building. It is dedicated to
Our Lady of the Angels, patroness of the village, whose icon
is carried through the parish on annual religious festivals
and during processions such as Semana Santa.
Adress: Ctra.
Grazalema – Ronda.
Tel: 956132010
LACILBULA
 Roman
villa with both civil and military structures, dating from
the 2nd century.
Found at some miles from the source of the río
Guadalete, the remnants of this Roman settlement are among
the most noteworthy of the Roman ruins that dot the mountains
of the Cádiz region. Founded on the Guadalete riverbank,
on the higher reaches of the mountainside, it’s believed
that the ruins found here were once an important settlement
and a major link in communications between the Guadalquivir
river valley and the coast of Cádiz. Wall paintings,
fortified towers, works suggesting an infrastructure and
fragments of paved roadways show that this was a busy and
important urbanized centre with social, administrative, business
and military functions.
Nearest landmark/direction: Cortijo
del Clavijo
AYUNTAMIENTO
 Civil
building from the 20th century.
Inaugurated in 1961, its facade is organised on a lower
floor behind an exterior loggia with three semicircular arches
over quadrilangular pillars and a ‘lookout’ tower
at one side. The second part comprises a wide terrace with
rectilinear vents. The interior houses various local government
offices.
Address: Pza. de España, 1
Tel: 956132011
ERMITA DEL CALVARIO
An ancient country hermitage or chapel, destroyed during
the Civil War and isolated on a mountainside adjacent to
the town. (It’s signposted on the road above Grazalema.)
PLAZA DE ESPAÑA
In Grazalema’s central square we see most of the emblematic
monuments of the town, such as the ayuntamiento, the Iglesia
Parroquial de Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación
and the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Aurora. |
About
Grazalema
This
18th century religious monument is notable for its central
octagonal floor plan and its drum-shaped cupola. It is without
doubt the most important building in the historic centre
of Grazalema. On
the outside is a supporting column, also octagonal, and covered
in tiles. 
