Church of Santa Cruz

The parish was established in 1501. When the first church in the upper part of Pampaneira became too small, its materials were reused to build the Church of Santa Cruz between 1726 and 1730, in Tuscan style and ochre colour. The coat of arms of the promoter of the work, Bishop Francisco de Perea y Porras, presides over the façade. In the choir there is an 18th-century organ. The splendid Mudejar wooden coffered ceiling is decorated with various triangles and stars whose rays increase as they advance towards the altar.

All the images date from the 17th and 18th centuries. Behind the baptistery we see san José and santa Filomena, whose altarpieces have disappeared. In the altarpiece of the Nazareno we have san Antón and san Antonio de Padua. On a pedestal stands a beautiful Inmaculada Concepción. The altarpiece of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios displays images of san Francisco de Paula and santa Rita de Casia,, as well as paintings of santos Francisco y Domingo y de la Santísima Trinidad. The magnificent polychrome main altarpiece, unique in La Alpujarra, has the Crucificado and the Santa Cruz, patron saint of the village, in the centre. In the lower section, from left to right, we see the al arcángel Rafael, santa Lucía, san Blas and san Ramón Nonato. Above are Cristo Salvador and san Pedro.

On the right wall, there is a painting of the descendimiento de Cristo, a carved and gilded pulpit, and an altarpiece of Virgen de los Dolores with paintings and images of the Sagrado Corazón and Ecce Homo. Next to it are the souls in purgatory and an old wooden confessional.

The bell tower offers striking views of the ravine and its villages. The two bells date from 1876 and 1964.