Iglesia de San Antón Mazarrón

The 16th and 17th century church of San Antonio de Padua in Mazarrón

Mazarrón is unusual in that it has two parish churches, a situation which arose due to the concessions granted to two powerful families, the Fajardos (Marqueses de los Vélez) and the Pachecos (Marqueses de Villafranca) each of whom built their own church (click for a brief history of Mazarrón).

The Church of San Antonio de Padua is situated next to the modern Town Hall, at the foot of the hill on which the castle of Los Vélez stands, surrounded by buildings dating from a later period of construction.

The church was built on the orders of the Marqués de los Vélez, and was finished in 1581. It had its own chaplain, who was in charge of all the religious services required by those working in the town, and whose existence also ensured that it was exempt from the payment of taxes to the Church of Cartagena.

The simple basic structure has undergone frequent reforms and variations, especially in the last 200 years, including the addition of the sacristy, the creation of a bell-tower, repairs in the dome on the transept and the unfortunate loss of altarpieces and images during the Spanish Civil War (1936-39).

The altarpieces lost during the Civil War have been replaced with new ones, which closely follow the style of their predecessors. The font remains from the old church.

On the façade the figure of San Antonio de Padua stands in a niche, just below the coat of arms of the Vélez family.

The church is currently closed for renovation works and is not in use as a place of worship.

Mass is held in the Churches of La Purísima and San Andrés.