Church of Our Lady of Welcome

A 17th-century work in the Baroque style. It houses the image of the patron saint of Valdefuentes. It is built around the Gurumeña neighborhood, a small cluster of houses whose urban structure corresponds to the characteristics common to Hispano-Muslim settlements, with narrow and winding layouts, dead-end alleys, covered streets, and small squares, notable for being the oldest in the town. From its architectural complex, it is necessary to highlight what is considered the most precious jewel of the temple: the baptistery vault, which is on the ground floor of the tower. It is a marvel made of stone, in the style of the transition period from Romanesque to Gothic: the so-called Cistercian. Its harmonious structure forms a four-pointed star, each point composed of three ribs that rest on the corners of the nooks, ending in a finial adorned with fruit motifs. The central piece of the star is a circular keystone from which eight radii with a sub-key each start. All the elements converge on that great central keystone, forming a series of pointed arches, with the whole assembly hanging at a third of the height of the vault, which is one of the most peculiar characteristics of the Cistercian style. Special mention of the interior of this temple also deserves: The Camarín: a rectangular room with an elliptical vault that expands, forming a regular-height dome with a blind lantern, resting on a cornice that, through pendentives, is resolved by resting on the pillars of the corners. The Main Altar Retablo: in a well-defined classic style, toned in clear and soft colors. A very open semicircular arch rests on an entablature supported by four thick Corinthian columns with gilded capitals; all subordinated to the central part of the retablo, where a large arched window stands out, making the throne of the Virgin of Bienvenida, venerated by the neighbors as the patron saint of Valdefuentes, clearly visible.