Church of Saint James the Greater, Peraleda de la Mata

Church of Santiago Apóstol (Saint James the Greater) in Peraleda de la Mata is the main parish church of this small town in the province of Cáceres, in the Spanish region of Extremadura. Rising above the surrounding countryside, the building ranks among the largest and most impressive religious structures in the Campo Arañuelo area.

Why was the church built here?

In the Middle Ages, Peraleda stood at the meeting point of two branches of the Way of St James that ran from the center of the Iberian Peninsula along the Tagus River — one from the north, one from the south — converging in the town before pilgrims continued toward La Vera in search of the Silver Route through Plasencia. That crossroads is the reason the church was dedicated to Saint James, patron of pilgrims.

Who paid for its construction?

Unlike many nearby churches, which were funded by bishops or noble families, this one was built with money raised by the parishioners themselves. Only about a hundred families living in the town at the time managed to see the project through — a period when Peraleda was one of the largest and most prosperous settlements in western Cáceres. Two sections of the building were constructed after 1575 and joined to an older tower that already stood on the site.

What does the architecture look like?

The church follows a Gothic-Renaissance style. Its walls are built of masonry reinforced with dressed stone at the corners, buttresses, and window openings, while the tower's upper section is finished in brick. Inside, a Gothic vault has survived. The tower itself changed over the centuries: in the 19th century, during the Carlist Wars, a new brick section was added to serve as a lookout post, and in the mid-20th century a third level was built on top to house the town clock.

What is inside the church?

The main altarpiece is a Baroque, shell-shaped retablo attributed to a workshop linked to the Churriguera school, modeled on the great altarpiece of the Dominicans of Salamanca and extended with two side altarpieces. During restoration work in 2019, conservators discovered an earlier carved Renaissance altarpiece hidden behind the Baroque one. The church also houses an organ built in 1704 by Manuel de la Viña, one of Spain's finest Baroque organ builders. It is the only surviving instrument by him with its original pipes intact, meaning visitors can still hear its original Baroque sound.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which saint is the church dedicated to? The church is dedicated to Saint James the Greater (Santiago Apóstol), since Peraleda once stood where two branches of the Way of St James met on the route toward the Silver Route.

Who built the church? It was funded by the residents of Peraleda themselves — only around a hundred families completed the project, at a time when the town was one of the most prosperous in western Cáceres.

What can visitors see inside? A Baroque main altarpiece in the Churriguera style, behind which an earlier Renaissance altarpiece was discovered in 2019, plus a 1704 organ by Manuel de la Viña that still has its original pipes.

What architectural style does the building show? The church combines Gothic and Renaissance elements — a Gothic vault, stone walls reinforced with dressed masonry at the corners and buttresses, and a brick tower expanded in the 19th and 20th centuries.