Oidor Chapel

(Madrid)

Located at the end of Cervantes square, we can see the remains of the apse of what was the old parish church of Santa María la Mayor, destroyed by fire in July 1936, and its isolated tower, now restored as a viewpoint.  Despite its radical transformation, some of its adjoining chapels were preserved, which are now occupied by the Tourist Office and the exhibition centre. The greatest interest is centred on the Chapel of the Oidor, so called because it was founded by the “oidor” of King Juan II of Castile, Don Pedro Díaz de Toledo, at the beginning of the 15th century as a burial place for his family. The plasterwork of the access arch, which is very peralted, with Gothic decoration on the soffit, is particularly noteworthy. The grille is Renaissance, from the 16th century.