The Church of Santa Maria, in Espera, is a beautiful Renaissance temple and is a magnificent example of Andalusian architecture from the second half of the 16th century.
The Church of Santa Maria, in Espera, is a beautiful Renaissance-style temple. What is more, it is a magnificent example of the Andalusian architecture from the second half of the 16th century.
It is dedicated to the worship of Santa María de Gracia. Inside, some impressive paintings at the main altar, by Pablo Legote, stand out.
The seismic activity in the area, and especially the Lisbon earthquake of 1755, caused severe structural damage that led the temple to a near ruin. Two centuries later, after extensive renovation, it was reopened to the public.