Church of Saint Bartholomew

The church of San Bartolomé is located on the outskirts of Santa Cruz de los Cáñamos, next to the cemetery, and is the main monumental landmark of the municipality.

Its location, somewhat separated from the hamlet, gives the visit a very particular character: as we approach it, the silhouette of the temple stands out in an open and peaceful environment, helping us to understand the relationship between the church, the old population center and the landscape of this sector of Campo de Montiel.

The building is sinking roots in the Late Middle Ages. He was raised in the 15th century in the place he occupied the old tower of Santa Cruz, reusing materials from it, especially masonry, stone and brick.

Over time, repairs and transformations modified its appearance until it became fixed in the 18th century, a physiognomy closer to the baroque approaches, with a longitudinal space that reflects that long constructive evolution.

The The main facade was completed in 1748 and preserves as significant feature a St. James cross in the key, a detail that links the building to the Santiago history of the region.

The visit allows you to recognize a single-nave church, covered with a vault and topped by a dome over the main altar.

Inside, the altarpiece decorated in gold leaf stands out, as well as the presence of a large Christ located in front of the main entrance.

Furthermore, a Recent restoration brought to light some frescoes in one of the arches of the nave, adding a new point of interest to the tour.

On the outside, what stands out is modern bell gable on the west facade, which replaced the old square bell tower with a slate roof, demolished in the 1950s due to the risk of collapse.