Contemplate the passion, talent and creativity that went into the design and creation of the sumptuous altarpieces and paintings that decorate this renaissance church.
Visit the 16th-century Anunciacion Church (Iglesia de laAnunciación) to see several centuries worth of religious art. Step through the beautiful wooden doorway into an interior of wonderful sculptures and altarpieces decorated with paintings that were designed to impress.
Stand in front of the main altar to study its 17th-century altarpiece which towers above the ground for more than 52 feet (16 meters).
The central panel is a scene depicting the circumcision of Jesus while the left panel has a depiction of the Annunciation. This was the moment when the Archangel Gabriel visited the Virgin Mary to tell her she had been chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus. The right panel has a painting of The Adoration of the Shepherds.
On either side of the altar are statues of St. Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit religious order and St. Francisco de Borja, a 16th-century Spanish Jesuit and great-grandson of Pope Alexander VI.
Tour the rest of the church to view other altarpieces. Look at the Altarpiece of St. John the Baptist which features reliefs covering key moments in the saint's life including his birth and martyrdom. Survey the Altarpiece of Our Lady of Bethlehem which contains a painting of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven.
Browse other religious works of art adorning the church's interior. They include a relief of the Virgin with Child and the Exaltation of the Name of Jesus, a painting by Juan de Roelas, a 16th- and 17th-century painter from the Spanish Netherlands.
Go through the Door of the Conception and take the steps that lead down to the crypt, a space known as the Pantheon of Illustrious Sevillians. It houses the remains of prominent people in the city's history including Benito Arias Montano, a 16th-century priest who supervised the creation of a polyglot Bible written in several languages.
Find the Anunciacion Church in the historical center of Seville opposite Las Setas de Sevilla. This is a large, wooden mushroom-shaped building with a central market and rooftop walkway. The church is open daily, but check ahead to ensure the church is open when you visit. Admission is free.
