Iglesias translated from Spanish means “churches,” and this is no coincidence.
The city actually has 24 parishes. The numerous churches can be grouped based on the historical periods in which they were built.
Among the oldest, built according to the sacred Byzantine architecture, we remember the Church of Sant’Antonio Abate dating back to the 10th-11th century and the Church of Santo Salvatore whose construction can be traced back to the period between the 9th and 11th centuries.
Among the churches of Pisan origin, the Church of Beata Vergine Maria di Valverde stands out, which, like the Cathedral of Santa Chiara, shows Roman architecture. They are followed by the Church of Nostra Signora delle Grazie and the Cathedral of Santa Chiara, the first Christian cathedral in the world dedicated to Chiara d’Assisi and a testimony of the transition from Roman to Gothic architecture.
Iglesias boasts a glorious past, especially during the Catalan-Aragonese domination, whose traditions are still vivid during the Holy Week. During that period, between the 14th century and the beginning of the 17th century, numerous churches were built, including the Church of San Francesco, the Church of San Michele, that of San Domenico, and the Church of San Giuseppe.
The Church of Vergine Purissima was built, which represents the only example of a church in the city built according to the architectural canons of the Counter-Reformation. Around the 1630s, the Sanctuary of Vergine del Buon Cammino was built, which today is part of the first stage of the Cammino Minerario di Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara Mining Path).
