Hospital of the Venerable Priests Velázquez Centre

Located in Seville and built to house retired priests, in the Hospital of the Venerable Priests, the church and its courtyards are a good example of the best Baroque architecture from Seville. Designed by Leonardo de Figueroa and Juan Domínguez, it is a fine example of Seville architecture from the second half of the 17th century (1676–1697).

Located at the heart of the Santa Cruz district, the building has two floors. It comprises the church and the old residence. Its courtyard, with a gallery of arches at a higher level, is outstanding. The descent to the central fountain is via a circular staircase decorated with tiles. Also outstanding is the staircase covered by an elliptical vault decorated with Baroque plasterwork.

The church has a single nave covered by a half-barrel vaulted ceiling with lunettes and transverse arches. The vault in the chancel is decorated with al fresco paintings by Valdés Leal, with the theme of the Invention of the True Cross, along with those on the ceiling of the sacristy. The main altarpiece features the Apotheosis of San Fernando, by Lucas Valdés, and San Clemente and San Isidoro, works by Virgilio Maltoni, to the sides.

The reliefs of the two San Juans were sculpted by Martínez Montañés. Murillo painted one of his most famous Immaculate Conceptions for this place, which is now kept at the Prado Museum.

Characteristic of Figueroa is the alternation of colour, thus creating the happiest and most typical Baroque in Seville.

It currently houses the Focus Abengoa Foundation and houses the Permanent exhibition of the Velázquez Centre.