Charity Hospital
Background and form of the Baroque
It had among its tasks the assistance to the abandoned sick and the burial of the executed and drowned, as well as to raise suffrages for their souls. It had its headquarters in a chapel, dedicated to St. George, built in one of the Royal Shipyards. The three large rooms of the hospital were built taking advantage of the naves of the Royal Shipyards of Seville that had been built in the time of Alfonso X. In 1644, due to the ruin of the old chapel, it was decided to build a new church according to plans by Pedro Sánchez Falconete. Miguel Mañara, elected as elder brother in 1663, became the main promoter of the project and expedited the works of the temple. The plans for the church were reformed at the initiative of Mañara himself and the façade was finished off by Leonardo de Figueroa.
The church’s façade was finished off by Leonardo de Figueroa.
The church’s courtyard is noteworthy.
The access courtyard, divided into two parts separated by a passageway overhung on columns, stands out. From the courtyard leads to the old lobby, which preserves various objects related to Miguel de Mañara, as one of the swords that belonged to him or the death mask. The walls contain extraordinary paintings, including works by Valdés Leal and Zurbarán.
