Church of the Society of Jesus

You’re now in front of the Church of the Society of Jesus, built by the Jesuits in 1595. The Society of Jesus is a Catholic religious order for men, founded in 1540 by Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Saint Francis Xavier, and Saint Peter Faber. Education was at the core of their mission, and they established Jesuit colleges across Europe, and eventually around the world. One of their colleges once stood here, next to the church, representing a major religious and cultural centre in the city. The original church on this site was looted in 1868 and later rebuilt in 1886. It was damaged again in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War, but it’s since been restored to its former glory. The façade is quite modest, blending Baroque and Renaissance elements. The interior is richly decorated and well worth stepping inside. It’s also home to one of the largest pipe organs in Spain, installed in 2002. If you look behind you, you’ll get a view of the back of the Lonja de la Seda, including the entrance to its peaceful courtyard.