This building is located in the Plaza de la Iglesia, in the historic centre. It was built in 1744 (specifically, the first stone was laid on 20th September) and was finished in 1750 in terms of the architecture, but not in terms of the decoration.
This church was built to accommodate the growing population of Tavernes due to the sheer inability of the previous building to contain the growing population. Due to its optimal position on the sunny side and at the foot of the mountain of Las Cruces, the inhabitants of Ràfol, Ombria and also Alcudiola came to settle in Tavernes.
The style of the church can be placed in the Rococo period. The barrel vault and the chapels between the buttresses were eliminated and, in exchange, the whole building was raised, eliminating the columns, thus creating a much larger and more diaphanous space with perimeter light. The most slender part of the whole building is undoubtedly the great dome, which is twenty-five metres high inside and has a surface area of 260 square metres.
The vaults of the interior of the temple are formed by three circular parameters, the third one rises in its cross building the dome.
In 1758, Vicent Peris, a painter, painted the glory of the presbytery and the apostles of the dome, the only mural decoration with a religious character in the whole church.
The bell tower is the most solid and at the same time the oldest work; it was an independent body of the temple, as can be seen by the rectangular windows on the four sides.
Another very important part of the church is the communion chapel. It is an academicist or neoclassical work built in 1828.
The main façade, and also the side façade, have been reformed and reordered by us, enriching it with works by prestigious artists such as Mr. José Esteve Edo (sculptor) and Mrs. Carme Machí (ceramist).
In addition, this church has its own museum where there are very old pieces such as incunabula, ceramics, paintings, religious clothing and a long etcetera of very interesting motifs.
Don Miguel Andrada tells us with enthusiasm and satisfaction all the history of the building, and we encourage any person or group, local or not, to visit this part of the living history of our town. Visits take place on Thursday mornings. Please make an appointment in advance.
Contact telephone number: 620 26 85 26. Mr. Miguel Andrada.
Audio extract of the visit (Valencian).
