Parroquia San Juan Evangelista

Parroquia San Juan Evangelista is a parish church in Madrid, located in the Guindalera neighborhood of the Salamanca district. Standing at Plaza Venecia 1, it has served the residents of the Parque de las Avenidas area as a place of Catholic worship for decades.

Where is the church located?

The parish sits in the northeastern part of the Salamanca district, within the quiet residential area known as Parque de las Avenidas. The nearest metro stop is Parque de las Avenidas on line 7, so the church is easy to reach without a car. Its address, Plaza Venecia 1, places the building right on a small square that anchors neighborhood life in this part of the city.

What is the history behind the parish?

The San Juan Evangelista community has accompanied the residents of Parque de las Avenidas since 1961, a period when the whole district was undergoing rapid urban development — the same years saw a new trolleybus line connect the neighborhood to Puerta del Sol. The church building itself came a few years later, completed in 1968, on a plot of land that had originally been earmarked for a cinema. That shift in purpose, from entertainment venue to place of worship, is one of the more distinctive episodes in the site's history.

The resulting building belongs to a generation of 1960s Madrid churches that broke with the architectural conventions of the time. Rather than drawing on historical styles, its designers opted for a bold, modern form — today the church is cited as one of the reference points for contemporary architecture in Madrid from that decade.

What stands out inside?

Two features define the interior. The first is a striking figure of Christ set above the main altar, dominating the sanctuary and drawing the eye from the entrance onward. The second is the stained glass — vividly colored and, on sunny days, filling the nave with shifting light. The combination of austere, modern architecture with such expressive visual elements gives the space a very different atmosphere from the classic churches found in central Madrid.

When are Mass times?

On weekdays and vigils of holy days, Mass is held at 9:30 and 20:00. On Sundays and holidays the schedule expands, with Mass at 9:30, 12:30, and 20:00. The parish also runs an office that handles baptism, confirmation, wedding, and funeral arrangements, as well as requests for Mass intentions. The parish can be reached by phone at 917 269 603.

Visitors should keep in mind that this is an active parish church rather than a museum. The quietest time to view the interior is outside Mass hours, though attending a service offers a chance to see the building serving its intended purpose.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly is Parroquia San Juan Evangelista located? The church stands at Plaza Venecia 1, in the Guindalera neighborhood of Madrid's Salamanca district, closest to the Parque de las Avenidas metro stop on line 7.

When was the parish founded, and when was the church built? The parish community has existed since 1961, while the church building itself was completed in 1968 on land originally set aside for a cinema.

What is the most distinctive feature of the interior? Visitors are drawn to the large figure of Christ above the main altar and to the vivid stained-glass windows that fill the interior with color.

What are the Mass times? On weekdays and vigils, Mass is at 9:30 and 20:00; on Sundays and holidays, it is held at 9:30, 12:30, and 20:00.