Chapel of the Immaculate Mary

Address:

Calle Amor de Dios, 13

Description:

Chronology: 20th century.

It was built in the 1940s coinciding with the urbanization of the former cattle fairgrounds. The church was part of the facilities of the new neighborhood of ultra-economic housing intended for the most disadvantaged families in the population. Its design is very simple. It has a single nave where worship is offered to various images belonging to the brotherhoods of the Entry into Jerusalem and Jesus Captive.

Inside, the twelve ceramic altarpieces created by local painter J. M. Brenes stand out. They reproduce works of religious theme. Velázquez’s Coronation and Gustave Doré’s Entry into Jerusalem complete the series of reproductions of works by Murillo, such as The Annunciation of the Virgin and the famous child portraits of Juanito and the lamb, and Murillo’s Good Shepherd.

The church and the neighborhood were dedicated to the patron saint of the Villa, San Bartolomé. However, later the church changed its dedication to that of Mary Immaculate, and the neighborhood became popularly known as “La Barriada” (The Neighborhood). There are still photos of the festivities that were held in the portable bullring that was installed in this area in the 1960s.