Iglesia de El Salvador (Church of El Salvador), Toledo

The Church of El Salvador is a small yet exceptional church with a rich history. Completed in 1159, it was built on the site of four successive constructions, including a 9th-century Visigothic religious building, an 11th-century Taifa mosque, and a 12th-century Christian church. The church is still oriented southeast, towards Mecca, as it was originally a mosque.

The most distinctive element of the Church of El Salvadoris the Visigothic pilaster, which dates back to the end of the 6th century or beginning of the 7th century. This Paleochristian relic has intricate relief carvings and depicts four scenes from the life of Christ, including the Cure of the Blind, the Resurrection of Lazarus, the Samaritan and the Hemorroísa. Despite its face being scraped by the Muslims, the pilaster's great size and attitudes make it distinguishable.

Although the church suffered a fire in the 15th century, it underwent an important restoration commissioned by Álvarez de Toledo. New chapels, including the Gothic chapel of Santa Catalina, were added, and different processes of archaeological investigation were carried out in the last decade of its history. The excavation of the parochial patio, the recovery of the primitive wall covering of the tower, and the archaeological excavation of the gospel and central naves were all part of the restoration process.

The Iglesia de El Salvador is also mentioned in the famous Spanish novel, Lazarillo de Tormes, and is the site where Joanna of Castile ("the Mad") and the dramatist Francisco de Rojas Zorrilla were baptized. It is located near other notable churches, including the Churches of Santo Tomé and Convento de Santa Úrsula.

The Church of El Salvador is an exceptional example of the city's rich history and cultural diversity, with elements from Visigothic, Muslim, and Christian eras blended together in its unique architecture.