Catedral de la Encarnación

Granada

A radiant sun with a human face is carved into the outer wall, and Almería has taken it for the city's emblem. Building began in 1524, after an earthquake wrecked the church that stood here, and the work carried on into the 17th century, adding walls and a roof made to hold off raiders from the North African coast.

Building began in 1524, after an earthquake wrecked the previous church. Diego de Siloé drew the original plan and Juan de Orea carried it through to completion around 1562, work that continued into the 17th century as the cathedral's defences were strengthened against raids by pirates from North Africa. Carved into the exterior wall is a radiant sun with a human face, a relief long credited to Bishop Juan del Castillo y Portocarrero. It was in fact commissioned decades earlier, in 1555, under Bishop Diego Fernández de Villalán, and has since become one of the city's own symbols, appearing on the University of Almería's emblem.

From riders

What you'll see

Squat corner towers, a flat roof built to carry cannon, and an apse shaped like a polygonal defensive tower give the building a fortress silhouette.

Checked 13 August 2026

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