The church of San Lázaro in Lorca

The 15^th century chapel on the lower slopes of the castle hill in Lorca has been recently restored

The chapel of San Lázaro is on the edge of one of the higher quarters of Lorca, on the slopes of the hill on top of which the castle and the Parador hotel stand, and was in ruins at least since the Spanish Civil War (1936-39), up until an extensive, 2-year, €1m renovation project was completed in 2022.

Its history is, to say the least, vague, although some documents refer to a water spring inside the building which fed the trees on the surrounding hillside. Of the interior decoration, the four panels belonging to the main altar screen are now housed in the former Collegiate Church of San Patricio, and there is an excellent Renaissance sculpture of the saint to whom the chapel is dedicated.

However, the district of San Lázaro has seen something of a revival in recent times as walkers pass through on their way up the hill to the castle and the Cejo de los Enamorados, and in February 2016 the Town Hall announced plans to restore the church of San Lázaro to the condition in which it might have been in the 16^th and 17^th centuries. This project has been made possible by the Diocese of Cartagena’s decision to cede the land on which the church stood to the Town Hall for 25 years, and finally came to fruition in November 2022, when the church was reopened to the public, along with the restoration of the local area with green zones and water features.

Similar restoration work has already been completed at the church of San Roque y San Sebastián, which is currently the oldest church in Lorca and is now home to the Belén museum of the city. The intention is for the Ermita de San Lázaro to be made available for cultural purposes in a similar way.

Address: Calle Ramblilla de San Lázaro

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