Description of the attraction
The Church of San Nicolas, located in the central part of Madrid on the square of the same name, is the oldest temple building in the city. Archaeological research indicates that the church was built in the 12th century, in any case, the first mention of it dates back to 1202. There are also suggestions that the Church of San Nicolas, like many churches in Spain, which was in the possession of the Moors for a long time, was built on the site of an Arab mosque.
In 1805, certain changes took place in the religious life of Spain, and the Church of San Nicolas was merged with the Church of El Salvador. The newly formed new parish was housed in the premises of the Church of El Salvador, and the building of the Church of San Nicolas was vacant until 1825. It was then that Servite monks (Order of the Servants of the Virgin Mary) took over. A few years later, in 1842, the building of the El Salvador church was destroyed and the church returned to its original premises. In 1891, as a result of further reforms, the Church of San Nicolas was moved to Atocha Street, in the building of the church at the Anton Martin hospital.
The main building of the church is made in the Baroque style. The most interesting and oldest part of the temple is the tower, which was erected in the 12th century in the Mudejar style. The tower is built of bricks and topped with a graceful spire. The walls of the tower are decorated with rows of decorative arches. It is believed that the tower is a former minaret that was rebuilt in the 14th century and turned into a church bell tower.
