La Church of Saint Peter the Elder it is next to the Church of Saint Nicholas of the Servites, one of the oldest temples in Madrid, both are already mentioned in the Fuero de Madrid 1202. Both show us their Mudejar towers, the only ones preserved in the city. It is located at the intersection of Nuncio and Costanilla de San Pedro streets, very close to garden of the Prince of Anglona, from whose entrance you can see its beautiful tower.

In the 17th century, the archbishop of Brindisi, Lorenzo Reinoso, ordered the temple to be renovated, the architect Francisco Sanz Cortes, took care of the work that was completed in 1661. During the War of Independence, the temple suffered serious damage by the French troops, (something that is repeated everywhere throughout the Spanish geography and that perhaps on some occasion would have to be try to verify case by case) the Archbishopric of Toledo, thanks to the collaboration and donations of the brotherhoods, rebuilds it. In 1886, San Pedro el Real once again threatened ruin, the threat of demolition loomed over the temple, luckily it did not come to pass.

Originally the name of the church was “San Pedro el Real”, and so for centuries, until 1891 when it ceased to be a parish in favor of the current one. Dove Church, which is officially called “San Pedro el Real”.

You already know how Madrid residents like to rename everything, we quickly renamed the oldest temple with the name “San Pedro el Viejo”. That is why everyone refers to the temple located on Calle del Nuncio as San Pedro el Viejo.

La II Republic and Civil War They also leave their mark on the temple that, deteriorated, resists and reaches us in the heart of Madrid.

Many legends hover over the temple, about its bells, the presence of a sandwich... not in vain are there eight centuries of history, few things in Madrid can say that. If the tower told us all the history that has happened at its feet, we would know our city much better.

A abrazo.