Sanctuary of St. Mary Magdalene

This religious building was built as part of a project by D. José Sala Sala, a modernist engineer from Novelda. Construction began in 1918 and was done in three phases, finishing in 1946. On the front entrance, there are two 25m towers topped with crosses which stand out, as well as the cupola and high arches. The decorative motifs have their roots in the medieval and baroque eras, as well as in nature itself; these influences led the architect to combine pebbles from the Vinalopó river, polychrome tiles, bricks, red tiles, and masonry throughout the structure’s exterior. The interior is comprised of a central chamber with two flanking rooms. In the apse, you’ll find the chapel of St. Mary Magdalene, Patroness of Novelda, and behind the altar there’s a beautiful painting attributed to Gastón Castelló.

The jewel of Novelda. It was constructed by D. José Sala Sala, a resident of Novelda and disciple of the great Antonio Gaudí. Gaudí’s influence in clearly visible in every detail of this sanctuary.

Because of that, it’s listed on the European Modernist tourist route. Its shape and the materials used to construct it (all coming from the area) stand out the most.

I visited when they were constructing and laying the "marble organ” (made from 100% marble). It’s the biggest of its kind in the world, so in less than a year we’ll have another mandatory visit to the sanctuary to see something