The Collegiate Church of San Isidro, the old cathedral of Madrid

The Collegiate Church of San Isidro was the provisional cathedral of Madrid from 1885 until the inauguration of the Almudena Cathedral in 1993.

It was built in the 17th century and it houses the mortal remains of the patron saint of Madrid, San Isidro Labrador, and his wife, Santa María de la Cabeza.

It was built in the Baroque style by Jesuit architects and has a Latin cross floor plan with a single nave, side chapels, a transept and a dome. Its worst moment was in 1936 when a fire during the Spanish Civil War destroyed numerous works of art and sank the dome, for which it had to be restored.

Visit the Collegiate Church of San Isidro

The Collegiate Church of San Isidro is located on a very narrow street, close to the Plaza Mayor, so it is not possible to admire its façade too much since there is no angle. It is even difficult to take a photo.

The main facade, built of granite, has a central body with 4 Corinthian columns presided over by the sculptures of San Isidro and Santa María de la Cabeza.

From its exterior we can also highlight the dome, although it is not possible to appreciate it from the street and you have to move away from the area to see it.

Once inside, what you should not miss is the main altarpiece, the work of Sebastián Herrera and the Relics of San Isidro that are found in it.

The festival of San Isidro is celebrated on May 15 by order of Pope Paul V, who set this date after his beatification as it was the day, in 1212, on which his incorrupt body was transferred inside the neighboring Church of San Andrés.

You can find more information on the official website of the Collegiate Church of San Isidro.