The Historic Centre of Frigiliana

Built in the 1676 and reformed a century later. It is almost entirely Renaissance in style and has a Latin cross plan divided into three naves separated by semicircular arches resting on rectangular pilasters. The transept is covered by a hemispherical vault on pendentives and a denticulated ring ending in a lantern, and the arms and the presbytery are covered by half-barrel vaults with lunettes.

Above the entrance portico is the choir, which has a rococo style mixtilinear cornice that receives the wooden balustrade with the same profile. Underneath it is an interesting wooden doorway made by Bartolomé de la Cruz Arjona, a Cordovan living in Frigiliana, when he was only 23 years old. The main façade opens onto an atrium with an iron gate. Above its doorway, which consists of a semicircular arch on pilasters, there is a coat of arms of Bishop Fray Alonso de Santo Tomás.

The town of Frigiliana has two chapels: the Chapel of Santo Cristo and the Chapel of San Sebastián, both of modest construction, which were much loved by the people.

Lthe Ecce Homo Chapel or the Chapel of the Holy Christ of La Caña As the locals know it, it is a place of cultural interest where you can learn about the tradition of Baroque Christian festivals in Frigiliana. Lto the Ecce Homo Chapel It is a small 18th-century building comprising a single nave. It opens onto the outside via an atrium with a semicircular arch at the front, whilst the epistle side is built against the hillside.

The Holy Wednesday is worn in procession featuring the sculpture of the Ecce Homo from this wayside chapel to the Church of St Anthony. The carving andIt is a polychrome wooden sculpture in the Neo-Baroque style, created in the second half of the 20th century. The procession of statues representing the Christian faith is a tradition that has been practised in Frigiliana since the 16th century, Although the statues carried in the procession today date from a later period, and do not help us to document the tradition’s origins, they are simply evidence of the tradition’s continued existence amongst the local population.

Built by Don Iñigo Manrique De Lara, the fifth Lord of Frigiliana and first Earl of the Town around the year 1640, placing his coat of arms there. It is attached to the rear elevation of a house and was designed to supply water to the local population and serve as a watering place for animals. Interestingly, it was originally known as «La Fuente Nueva».

As you stroll through the historic quarter, you’ll find it on your left as you walk down Calle Chorruelo.

This building was probably built at the beginning of the 17th century as a granary, stables and storehouse for farm implements. It has a rectangular floor plan with a courtyard inside and is built on two levels with rammed earth walls with stone walls. The arches and pillars are made of brick, as is the entrance doorway.

The remains of the Moorish castle in Frigiliana do not know the exact date of its construction, although some authors suggest it was built in the 9th century, coinciding with the revolt of Omar Ben Hafsun against the emir of Córdoba, whose military actions reached here, while others date it to the 11th century, coinciding with the construction of other similar enclosures by the Almoravids.

Part of the exterior layout is known, thanks to the preservation of some low walls and remains of walls, which would place the castle covering the entire crown of the Lízar hill. It is assumed that the defence of the castle would have had several towers and at least one access from the south side, towards the village, although it may also have had another gate on the north side, an easier access point.

It was in this corner that the vessel bearing the enigmatic design depicting the symbols of the Muslim, Jewish and Christian faiths, and which gave rise to the slogan of the Frigiliana 3 Cultures Festival.

It will soon be on display at the Frigiliana Museum.