Church of San Martín de Tours, Cigüenza

The Church of San Martín de Tours stands in Cigüenza, a small village within the municipality of Alfoz de Lloredo in Cantabria, Spain. Behind its Baroque stone facade lies a story of transatlantic fortune and architectural influence carried across the ocean from colonial Peru.

Why does a Peruvian-influenced church exist in a small Cantabrian village?

The answer lies in the phenomenon of the "indianos" — Spaniards who emigrated to the Americas to build their fortunes and later funneled that wealth back into their hometowns. Juan Antonio de Tagle-Bracho, born in Cigüenza, made his career in Peru, where he became Prior of the Consulate of Lima, was knighted into the Order of Calatrava, and was later named the first Count of Casa Tagle de Trasierra. In 1743 he commissioned and financed a grand church for his native village, sending the funds directly from Peru to pay for its construction.

Who built the church?

Construction was carried out by master stonemason Francisco Rubín de Colombres, a respected builder in 18th-century Cantabria. The result is a Baroque structure built entirely in ashlar stone, giving the building the solid, monumental character typical of Cantabrian religious architecture of the period.

What makes this church architecturally unusual?

Its most distinctive feature is the direct link to colonial Peru. Because the founder had spent much of his life in Lima, he wanted his hometown church to echo the architecture he knew there — specifically modeling it on the church of the Capuchin nuns in Lima. The result blends European Baroque with elements of Andean colonial design, making it a rare example of "indiano Baroque" transplanted to northern Spain. Such colonial influence is uncommon in the region, setting this church apart from the typical rural parish churches of Cantabria.

What is the church's protected status today?

Recognizing its historical and architectural value, the church was declared a Bien de Interés Cultural (Property of Cultural Interest) in 1992 — Spain's highest level of heritage protection. It is regarded as one of the most important Baroque buildings in Cantabria and the region's most representative example of colonial-influenced art.

Where exactly is it located?

The church stands in the village of Cigüenza, part of the municipality of Alfoz de Lloredo, in the northeastern part of Cantabria near the Cantabrian Sea coast. Its coordinates are approximately 43.3873°N, -4.1827°W.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who paid for the church's construction? Juan Antonio de Tagle-Bracho, an indiano born in Cigüenza who built his career in Peru as Prior of the Consulate of Lima and later became the first Count of Casa Tagle de Trasierra, commissioned and funded the church in 1743, sending money from South America to cover the work.

What architectural style is the church built in? It is a Baroque building with clear influences from Peruvian colonial Baroque, modeled after the church of the Capuchin nuns in Lima. It was constructed in ashlar stone under master stonemason Francisco Rubín de Colombres.

Is the church a legally protected heritage site? Yes. In 1992 it was declared a Bien de Interés Cultural, Spain's top category of heritage protection, confirming its exceptional historical and architectural significance.

Why is this church worth visiting despite being in such a small village? It offers a rare direct fusion of European and South American architecture — the physical legacy of one family's fortune, earned in Peru and translated into stone back in their Cantabrian hometown. It stands as a distinctive record of the indiano era, visible in the building's form and facade details.