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The word “castrense” means that this church is related to the military history of Cartagena, being a place of worship used by those belonging to the military profession.

 

Cartagena has been irrevocably linked to military activity, being a significant port throughout its long history (click History of Cartagena part 4).

 

The castrense church of Santo Domingo is located in Calle Mayor de Cartagena, and is an eighteenth century baroque construction which was eclectically remodelled in the 20th century.

 

The church is effectively sandwiched between two private residences, due to the disappearance of the convent to which it formerly belonged.

 

This is the principal headquarters for the important Cofradía Marraja, one of the largest groups to participate in the annual Easter week processions of Semana Santa, and as such contains many of the pasos, or images, which are used in the parades, most of them made by sculptor José Capuz. The chapel which houses the patrimony of the Marrajas was itself built in 1690 and houses a significant baroque wooden and polychromed alterpiece.

 

The Iglesia de Santo Domingo was formerly part of the convento de San Isidoro, of the Orden de Santo Domingo, which was founded in 1580 around which the current structure was built by the Navy in 1875.

 

During the Spanish Civil War the City of Cartagena was mercilessly bombarded due to its importance as a key military location and the church, along with many other important buildings in the city, was damaged. Following the Civil War it underwent several re-modellings, the most significant being in 1973 when a complete renovation gave it the structure and appearance we see today.