Iglesia de San Francisco

The Church of San Francisco El Nuevo (formerly the Church of San José) is located in the Plaza del Altozano in Utrera. In 1767, with the expulsion of the Jesuits decreed by Charles III, the building was abandoned for 30 years, until the Franciscans of Utrera obtained authorisation to move into it. The mixture of elements characteristic of both religious orders can be seen in the interior of this church, the main doorway is located at the foot of the church, in Clemente de la Cuadra street, with a clearly Baroque elevation, and the detail of the royal coat of arms of Carlos IV stands out, as all the assets of the congregation after its expulsion passed to the crown. The side doorway, in the Altozano, very simple in elevation, was opened during the time of the Franciscans. The church has two naves, the Sagrario Chapel (closed for worship) and the Capilla Mayor (Main Chapel), where the Baroque altarpiece stands out, conceived as a curtain hanging from a royal crown and held up by several angels. The Virgen de los Dolores (Virgin of Sorrows), which is very popular in the town, stands out in the chapel. The dome features the Apotheosis of the Society of Jesus, a work attributed to the Sevillian Juan Espinal.