Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón (Sacred Heart Church), Malaga

Located in Plaza de San Ignacio de Loyola, the Church of the Sacred Heart (Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón) is a Neo-Gothic temple, constructed in 1920.

Among the diverse Neo-Gothic churches built in Malaga at the turn of the 20th century, this is the only one located in the Old Town that belongs to the Jesuit Order. Commissioned by the Jesuits, the architect Fernando Guerrero Strachan designed it in January 1907, using the cathedral of Toledo as a model to integrate Islamic elements, as well as the cathedral in Burgos and the monastery of las Huelgas.

The produced result is the basilica, divided into three naves, covered with a ribbed vault. The transept, with an octagonal plan and a star-shaped vault, stands out. The choir is set at the foot of the central nave, which is higher and wider than the side aisles. Another prominent feature is the Gothic-style stained glass windows, produced by Apolo Parkinson Molinari.

Why You Should Visit:
Amid the myriad of impressive churches found in (or around) the historic center of Málaga, this one may appear somewhat tucked away and overshadowed by the Malaga Cathedral, but is still worth checking out, if only for the cleaned stonework – rather pretty, especially when floodlit at night.