oratory of la santa cueva

This tiny 'Holy Cave' church combines stark, simple piety and glorious splendor in its lower and upper chapels. Dating to the 1700s, and featuring three commissioned Goya masterpieces, the higher chapel has more artworks...but the lower 'cave' is powerfully conducive to meditation. NOTE: Steep stairs could be treacherous; not for mobility impaired.

This oratory is beautiful. There is an underground level where there is a large stark calvary. The middle level is a small museum where among other things one can see the score of Haydn's Seven Last Words of Christ oratorio which was commissioned for here. The Top floor is the beautiful chapel which has three paintings by Goya. The Last Supper is very unusual as the apostles are lying down.

They took our 2 x 3 euros and gave us a good leaflet, but of course by that time you are there and head off upstairs to see the goyas and surroundings. The Goya paintings are on the inside of the roof, quite dark and hard to see. Unfortunately while we were there a jobsworth in yellow was testing the burgalr alarm. It was quite high pitched and rang continuously for ages, twice. I complained, and when we were leaving, so did the cashier - but kept his 6 euros.There's not a lot here but the sculpture in the basement is worth the trip down. The place was quite humid inside. There are lots of churches in cadiz. This one we confused with the Oratorio of the Constitution, which also cost 6 euros, and requires spanish language skill to get the most from. We left the Santa Cueva a lot more tense and irritated than when we arrived, but suspect we were just unlucky. But it felt like a tourist tax and was barely worth 3 euros if quiet.

I visited the Oratory with a group in July, and from the simple entrance area I thought it would be just a little church museum. I was so wrong. It was amazing inside and downstairs. The preservation work is outstanding. The ornate upper chambers are certainly in contrast to the emotional lower level for prayer and meditation. The Goya paintings are beautiful. What a sight. When you see the statue of Jesus downstairs, make sure to go to the side area on the right to get a closeup view. The guide gives an in depth tour in Spanish. This was another time, I wished I could speak another language fluently. I was very happy that this was part of our city walking tour. Add it to yours.----------- Ken

Startling contrast between the gloomy simplicity of the lower chamber, designed for prayer and meditation, and the ornate upper chamber - a rich treasure trove of beauty. We asked at reception how much the entrance fee was and the two old gents waved us through for nothing. This oratory has an unglamorous exterior, and it's unlikely to be one that you'll happen upon by accident, but it's definitely worth seeking out for its neoclassical splendour inside (including the three Goya paintings).

It suits its name: musty, unimposing, with a haphazard sort of entrance and an off-putting desk in the stairwell; the place sort of unfurls as you enter, opening quiet, almost secret alcoves into a vibrant, can we say haunted, past. Go downstairs first, to the Low chapel of La Pasión. Austere, in a simple, white room, the Calvary sculpted by Galdulfo and Vaccaro evokes the betrayal, suffering and passion of the crucified Christ, creating a somber place for meditation and prayer. Santa Cueva was built and supported , in the mid-18th century, by a fraternity, the Brotherhood of Santa Cueva, which evolved from a group called La Madre Antigua. The building was built on the site of the Rosaria church, where a subterranean cave was found, enlarged and constructed as this chapel, completed in 1783.After such an austere and moody entrance, The High Chapel of the Holy Sacrament is stunning in its baroque decorative style, elliptical floor plan, lush marble, jasper, with fabulous murals and plaster relief. Acclaimed artists were commissioned to decorate the chapel: Antonio Cavallini, Cosme Velázquez, Zakarías Gonzalez Velázquez and José Camarón, with three paintings depicting the miracles of Christ by Francisco de Goya. Beautifully lit, and high, in contrast to the depth of the cave of the Passion, the Chapel of the Holy Sacrament resonates with the joy of the Christian promise. The design of the structure, the contrast of low and high, dim and bright, the intensity and quality of the decoration – all these elements create a compelling experience – emotional, aesthetic and spiritual. Every bit as strong is the component of history, which the building seems to contain like a glass holds wine. Especially in Cadiz, perched on the Atlantic and thriving on international trade and commerce, one can imagine the impact of the American and French revolutions, and only a few decades after this building was completed, the French invasion of Spain in 1808 by Joseph I, Napoleon’s brother, and bloody war for six long years. Goya’s black prints of his later years describe the horrors of that invasion. This small chapel, built from a cave, resonates with the intensity of Spanish history, its aspirations, its extremes, its austerities.

Think entrance was about E3. You could almost miss the front door. Downstairs is quite bare but upstairs is something else. A small but very ornate chapel with some beautiful paintings. Well worth the visit.

My husband and I were pleasantly surprised by the beautiful art and craftsmanship here. Every single square inch is something else to appreciate and I kept finding myself with my jaw dropped or whispering "wow". We originally went to see the works here by Goya, which were surely worth it, but there was so much more. A ton of beauty packed into a small place.

Imagine being so rich you could invite a world famous painter to come and fill in 5 arches. The 5 Goya paintings in this fantastic building are excellent. I liked being a pensioner (over 65s) and having reduced admission on production of a photocopy of my passport

For those who love art and specially classic painting, this is special charming temple, and inside you can surprisely admire paintings of the international Spanish master Goya, who apparently lived in this city 200 years ago and not many people know about it. The place deserves more credit and popularity.

The Oratory of the Santa Cueva (Holy Cave) is not the easiest place to find because it's in a building that from the outside does not appear to be a church. In addition, the hours it's open are limited because it closes in mid-day. If you've visited the massive cathedrals in Europe, the Oratory is a surprising find. It consists of two chapels, the lower chapel is quite plain and is dominated by a sculpture of Christ on the cross. In contrast, the upper chapel is extremely ornate with three paintings by Goya, a dome painted by Cavallini, and reliefs in stucco created by Velazquez. The amount of high quality religious art contained in this small space is amazing. I'm not knowledgeable about art, but I enjoyed the beauty displayed here.

Stumbled across this piece of history Goya & Velazquez paintings, sculptures. Not religious at all but enjoyed this visit probably a hidden gem.

Just behind our hotel, this little place was fascinating. Not just for its Goyas but also for the story behind the Father who founded it and spent his huge inheritance not just on this, but on good works.

Two chapels - the simple low chapel and the ornate high chapel with the Goya paintings - are a stark contrast. The story of Father Santamaria, his fraternity and Haydn's Seven Words is interesting. Worth a look.

The chapels are beautiful and quite worth a look. It is surprising that behind such a plain entrance is hidden such beauty.