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Conil has fantastic monuments. Visits recommended!!!. Parish Church of Santa Catalina: The Parish Church of Santa Catalina originally began as a convent of the Friars minors of convent of La Victoria. It was first constructed in the 16th century under the orders of the Dukes of Medina Sidonia, Masters of the village of conil.
Inside the church, the ancient statue of Ntra. Sra. de las Virtudes can found which is still venerated. The church also keeps an image of the virgin Victoria, patron saint of the Friars Minors, and the cruxifiction that appears to be a piece or work from the 17th century. Due to Crist's position and anatomical features, certain similarities have been revelated linking it with the school of the maestro Martínez Montañés of that period.
Church of La Misecordia: The church of La Misericordia, also referred to as the people's old home, is a great work built during the second half of the 18th. Century. It was Don Sebastián Sánchez Franco, Count of Las Cinco Torres (the Five Towers), native of conil, who constructed the church to give shelter to thirty impoverished families. Two distinct parts are clearly seen: the church itself and the surrounding rooms. The church, appearing more like a chapel, contains a oval ground plan and covers the central part of the structure. The rooms, which are located on both sides of the chapel, are built around patios and gave shelter to the families.
Church of Santa Catalina: the Church of Santa Catalina was built in the 16th. Century over the ruins of another building. It was restored at the end of the nineteenth century resulting in a mixture of architectural styles. The church stands in front of the square and gardens that cariy the same name.
Church of El Espíritu Santo: the chapel was built in the 17th. Century by the González Manuel family. It is located in the Barrio de Pescadores (Fishermen Neighbourhood) and it guards the image of Ntra. Sra. del Carmen. The chapel was restored in 1969.
The church of Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno: The pilgrimage church was built in the 16th. century by the brotherhood “Hermandad de La Misericordia”. In 1715, a chapel dedicated to the Virgen de Guadalupe was built inside this church on the orders of Don Miguel Calderón de la Barca, a rich landowner from conil. Within can be found, the images of Jesús Nazareno, made by Francisco Villegas in 1632, Santa Lucía, assumed to have been built by Alonso Cano and the patron Saint of the village, San Sebastián to be worshipped.
Torre de Guzmán: The Tower of Guzmán is not only part of the little history heritage that the village of conil contains but it also, in former times, gave its name to the town. Besides, it is the main element in the shield of Conil de la Frontera. In the second half if the of the fifteenth century, Don Alonso Pérez de Guzmán El Bueno (The Good) ordered the tower to be built, and it was finished in the 14th. century in the Gothic style. In 1988, its restoration started and was completed in 1992.
The Watchtowers: During the Middle Ages, the zones of La Frontera (on the border) were often occupied with fights and wars. That is why it is not strange that many towers and watchtowers were ordered to be built during that time. They defended the village as well as protected the tunny nets. Four watchtowers were spread along the coastline of Conil de la Frontera: Torre de Castilnovo, Torre de Guzmán, La Atalaya, Torre de Roche and Torre del Puerco.
Puerta de la Villa: The village of Conil contained several gates because it was fortified with walls. La Puerta de La Villa (the gate of the village) is the only one that still stands today. The other gates have disappeared, although their names remain in the places where they used to stand such as: Puerta de Cádiz and Puerta del Moscón. |