Church of St. Mary of Cana

Church of St. Mary of Cana is a Catholic parish church in Pozuelo de Alarcón, a municipality on the western outskirts of Madrid. The building stands apart from typical religious architecture — it is a modern, brick, cross-shaped structure designed by architect Fernando Higueras.

Who designed the church and how was it built?

Higueras received the commission in 1995. The story behind the project is unusual — the young parish priest reportedly asked the architect for a church that would not look "modern," would have a cross-shaped plan, would be built of brick, and would feature "lots of little arches." Construction continued until 1999, when the building was formally completed. The process was not without friction: in 1999, Higueras was removed from directing the works before they were fully finished, due to budget and schedule overruns. Even so, the finished structure follows his original design.

What does the architecture look like?

Instead of facades running parallel to the property lines, the building uses orthogonal setbacks that form terraces and eaves, giving it a stepped, layered profile. The brick fabric is arranged in vertical and curved recesses that create plays of light and shadow inside, and at the entrance they form a portico that flares outward like a trumpet. Those same setbacks also improve the building's acoustics. Inside, the church uses vaults on pendentives, and at each of the four corners of the cross-shaped plan Higueras placed a square courtyard with a garden. The whole complex covers 4,145 square meters.

What role does the church play today?

Santa María de Caná is one of the most attended parishes in Spain. It belongs to the seventh vicariate of the Archdiocese of Madrid. The church stands at Avenida de Europa 6, in Pozuelo de Alarcón, and remains open daily to worshippers and to anyone interested in its architecture — from 7:00 AM to 9:30 PM, and from 9:00 AM to 9:30 PM during the summer months.

Why is this church worth seeing?

It is one of the more striking examples of late-20th-century religious architecture in the Madrid region, combining a traditional cross-shaped plan and material — brick — with a bold, personal spatial design. The imposing tower, built from a series of semicircular arches reminiscent of cathedral vaulting, is visible from a distance and serves as a landmark in this part of Pozuelo de Alarcón. For visitors to Madrid interested in 20th-century architecture, Higueras's building makes an interesting stop beyond the historic city center.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who designed the Church of St. Mary of Cana? The building was designed by architect Fernando Higueras, who received the commission in 1995; construction was completed in 1999.

What material is the church built from? The structure is built entirely of brick, arranged in distinctive vertical and curved setbacks that create effects of light and shadow and improve the acoustics inside.

Where is the church located and what are its opening hours? The church is located at Avenida de Europa 6 in Pozuelo de Alarcón. It is open daily from 7:00 AM to 9:30 PM (9:00 AM to 9:30 PM in summer).

Did the construction go smoothly? Not entirely — in 1999, architect Fernando Higueras was removed from directing the works before they were fully completed, due to budget and schedule overruns, although the finished building still follows his design.