Iglesia Vieja de Zafarraya
The Iglesia Vieja de Zafarraya (The Old Church of Zafarraya) is a 19th century Neoclassical church built at the request of General Ramón María Narváez, a prominent Spanish soldier and politician from nearby Loja. According to local tradition, while fleeing political opponents in the 1850s, a farmer from Zafarraya gave him refuge; Narváez reportedly remembered his hospitality and supported the building of the church.
The church is attributed to the same architect who designed Málaga's Iglesia de La Merced. It was noted for having three gabled naves with wooden coffered ceilings, brick walls and masonry. The church comprised a cross formed by a wide central nave and a second, shorter nave, a dome at their intersection, two lower side naves, and the main altar. The facade featured a large door with a half-point arch and a brick pediment.
The church was severely damaged during the 1884 Andalucían earthquake. The remaining ruins have undergone recent restoration, and the site reopened in 2026 as the Interpretation Centre of the 1884 Andalucían Earthquake, combining the preservation of Zafarraya's architectural heritage with an account of one of the most significant events in its history.
Location
Located in Plaza José Heredia.