Parish Church of San José (Saint Joshep)

The Church of Saint Joshep
was completed in 1712.
The Order of Calatrava managed the church
until the mid-19th century.

The Order of Calatrava
had many properties in Abanilla.
I belonged to this Order, Juan de Cereceda y Carrascosa.

Before being where it is now,
the Church of Saint Joshep was built
in the 16th century in the Lugar Alto hill.
It was built on top of the remains of another church.
This church was the Church of San Benito.

The Church of Saint Joshep
has the shape of a cross
and is in the Murcian Baroque style.
Its altarpiece is also in this style.
The church has been declared
as a Cultural Interest Asset since 2009.

From both the outside and inside of the church,
you can see the Cross of Calatrava.
The Cross of Calatrava was the symbol
used by those of us who belonged
to the Order of Calatrava.

Next to the main altar of the church,
there is a chapel.
Inside the chapel, there is a cross.
This cross is called the Holy Cross
and is the patroness of Abanilla.