Analysis and Diagnosis of the Church of Santiago in Jerez de la Frontera (Spain)

The church of Santiago (Jerez de la Frontera, Spain) has its origin in a small chapel built in the XIII century. Three naves added in the XV century gave rise to the current temple. The church has been modified along the history due to two main reasons: (i) the interest for its enlargement and embellishment and (ii) to solve some structural problems documented since the XVII century. The most relevant problems that have affected the structure can be summarized in two partial collapses (1695 and 1956) and the substitution of two columns (1902 and 1928) to prevent new catastrophes. However, at the beginning of the XXI century important damage in columns and walls caused to close the temple and initiate an ample investigation on the church and its structural behaviour. The conclusions of this analysis, together with a preliminary proposal for restoration, are the main goal of this paper.