Iglesia de San Sebastián

At 39 Atocha Street stands the church of San Sebastián, one of the oldest in Madrid, as it began to be built in 1554 on the site of a chapel of the same name. In the following decades, chapels and the tower, which was erected in 1612, were added. It was the centre of social and religious life in the Barrio de Las Letras during the Golden Age. The most famous comedians were baptised, married or laid to rest here. The tomb of Lope de Vega is reportedly located inside the church. The church was destroyed in 1936 and reconstruction began in 1943.

Text and photos by Antonio Castro Jiménez, Chronicler of the City of Madrid.