We used our online combo ticket with Seville Cathedral to enter this church. At 11 am, mid-week in October, there was no line-up at the door and there were only a few visitors inside. This church is about a 10 minute walk from the Cathedral when using the main street where the City Hall is located. There are some stairs to climb before reaching the entrance door.
The pink façade of San Salvadore Church makes it a stand out on the street so it is easily seen and provides a clue that the décor of this church is baroque in nature. The church is lovely inside, but then I tend to favor baroque churches. Quiet, not overly large, bright and clean, and very attractive with its many gilt decorated altars and religious figures. The main altar is just beautiful! Framed under a high arch, this altar seems to rise from the floor to the ceiling and is filled with elegant religious figures, both gilted and polychromed, that seem to be in motion with their outflung arms and bent legs. Two large angels hold aloft 2 silver censers on each side of this altar. Above them is an oval ceiling painting with religious figures surrounding a dove, all done in wonderful soft colors. In front of them is a simple modern looking altar holding several white tapers.
Other altars in this church, placed along the sides and at the end of the 2 side aisles, had similar polychromed religious figures with surrounding gilt décor. These also seemed to be nestled between curved arches which provided a frame for each. What I liked about these altars was that each had a central theme illustrated by the large religious figures placed in its middle such as a crowned Virgin Mary, Jesus riding a donkey, a crucified Jesus, a risen Christ.
Two other altars showed the figures of the first Spanish King Ferdinand who had conquered the Muslims and Christianized Spain and the 2 martyrs and “protectors of Seville”, Justa and Rufina. Each of these had an info board to explain their significance.
The white fluted arched columns and white washed walls certainly made the gilt altars stand out. The vaulted ceiling was plain – no tracery. High celestorial windows placed on the second level did have colored glass but allowed bright light to come through too. Unlike gothic catholic churches, this one did not have stained glass windows.
To see vintage carved and painted religious figures in the church’s “attic” (free), use the stairs at the end of the right side aisle. Public washroom is available at the end of the left side aisle.
I was glad we had visited this church before the Seville Cathedral which is over the top with gilt altars everywhere.