Über diesen Ort
The Oratorio de San Felipe Neri is a beautiful oval Baroque church of the late seventeenth century, holding a fine Immaculate Conception by the painter Murillo above its altar. But its true fame rests on a momentous episode. During the Peninsular War, when Napoleon's armies had overrun almost all of Spain, Cádiz, protected by the sea and the British navy, held out as the last free city, enduring a long siege. It was here, in this church, that the besieged Spanish parliament, the Cortes, gathered, and on the nineteenth of March 1812 they promulgated the Constitution of Cádiz, the first constitution in Spanish history. Affectionately nicknamed La Pepa, because it was proclaimed on the feast of Saint Joseph, it was a landmark of liberalism, proclaiming national sovereignty and limiting the power of the king, and it influenced constitutions across Europe and Latin America. Plaques from many nations on the walls outside honour the event.
Wissenswertes
- 1812 year — Spain's first constitution was proclaimed in this church on 19 March 1812
- 1 nickname — The constitution was nicknamed La Pepa, for the feast of Saint Joseph
- 1 Murillo — A fine Immaculate Conception by Murillo hangs above the altar
📍 Calle San José, 11003, Cádiz