San Sebastián Church

The San Sebastián parish church was built between 1737 and 1742 on the lot where the previous one, dating from the early 16^th century, was erected. Defrayed by the Santiago Order and the Town's Council, the temple has the typical features of the Murcian Baroque style.

 

Although the church seems to have a basilical structure, inside it has a quadrangular layout divided in three wards with an apse and cross on which there is a dome supported by pendentives decorated with old paintings representing the four evangelists.

 

In the entrance there is a semicircular arch with a window dome that houses the sottocoro, which stands on a Toscan pillar supporting a large holy water font profusely decorated with Santiago symbols.

 

The main facade is simple, with molds, pinnacles and a central niche housing a sculpture of Santiago. The entire structure has stone ashlars. The tower that has the belfry is comprised of three bodies separated by stone angles and cornices from the former temple.

 

The main religious images are two beautiful pieces by Francisco Salzillo: one from 1746 representing Saint Joseph and the other of Saint Joaquin with the Baby Virgin. Another great piece is the San Sebastián sculpture, carved in cherry tree wood in 1721 by an anonymous Franciscan friar from Cieza.

 

The historical-artistic value of the temple also includes a magnificent organ built by Josef Meseguer in 1743, in line with the rural style of 18^th-century Castile. The organ, which plays 180 sounds and has a beautifully simple decoration, was donated by the Llamas family, one of the most influential in the town. The Llanas sponsored and gave many objects and pieces to the temple. The entire church is considered a monument of cultural interest.