Toledo, Spain
Coordinates: 39.862000, -4.025500
Santiago del Arrabal is a church in Toledo, Spain, built in 1245–48 on the site of an earlier mosque.
Many characteristics of Islamic architecture, such as the horseshoe arch, have remained in the present building which is built in the Mudéjar (Muslims of Al-Andalus) style.
The church is dedicated to Saint James (“Santiago” in Spanish), “del Arrabal” refers to its location on the outskirts of Toledo (Arrabal being a Spanish word of Arabic origin).
It has masonry and brick walls with doors framed in multi – lobed horseshoe arches.
Inside there are Arabic symbols such as the ‘hand of Fatima’ or inscriptions on the wooden ceiling.
History
Built in the second half of the century xiii, under the sponsorship of Sancho II, King of Portugal, is one of the best examples of the Mudejar Toledo. It is listed as an asset of cultural interest.
Its location, near the Puerta de Bisagra Vieja and in an old Muslim neighborhood, suggests that the church must have been built on the site of an original temple, perhaps a mosque.
