Santa Maria Church

The Church of Santa Maria de Mojacar is a parish church with the character of a fortress, located in the upper part of the historic center of Mojacar, in the province of Almeria, next to the Plaza de la Iglesia. The place coincides with the indicated coordinates and is one of the most recognizable heritage landmarks of the municipality. It was declared of Cultural Interest as a Monument, and local sources also present it as a Monument of Cultural Interest. It was built around 1560, at the end of the 16th century, under the direction of the master builder Sebastián Segura. The consulted sources describe it as a Renaissance style building, erected on the site of the old main mosque, at a time of transition between the Islamic and Christian Mojácar. The temple stands out for its defensive condition, typical of a church-fortress built for a context of coastal insecurity. It has masonry walls with large ashlars, few openings and a square tower, features that reinforce its austere and militarized appearance. Inside, the heritage guides cite a single nave, coffered ceiling or wooden frame and an altar of the sixteenth century. Among the documented elements, the two doorways, the tower restored in contemporary times and the presence of devotional images linked to local patron saints, such as the Virgin of the Rosary and Saint Augustine, stand out. The ensemble summarizes the historical, religious and defensive value of this temple in the urban and symbolic development of Mojácar.