The Seville city council has taken a significant step towards preserving the Capilla del Carmen, located in the Elcano neighbourhood, by approving a modification to the General Urban Planning Plan (PGOU). This decision was made during the council's plenary session held in October 2026.
The approved modification aims to protect all emblematic elements of the chapel, including its exterior appearance, the inverted ship-shaped ceiling, and the mural paintings. These features will now be included in the PGOU's Peripheral Catalogue with a level of protection that was previously lacking.
Specifically, the chapel has been granted a partial protection level of grade 1 'C', which mandates the safeguarding of its façade, interior structure, roof type, and mural decorations.
Capilla del Carmen is an integral part of the original project for the Elcano neighbourhood, designed in 1949 by architect José Galnares Sagastizábal to provide housing for workers of the National Company Elcano, later known as Astilleros de Sevilla. It is regarded as a key identifying element within the neighbourhood and a vital part of its history, having remained largely unchanged over its 75 years of existence.
The chapel is also a clear example of the architectural style of its time, following the historicist-regionalist model typical of religious buildings. It features a simple design with three naves, the main one having a wooden roof from which hangs a replica of an ancient galleon. A double-bodied belfry is positioned above the altar, while the façade showcases a semicircular arch entrance adorned with a ceramic retablo of the Virgen del Carmen.
The main chapel is decorated with frescoes depicting maritime themes, created by Juan Miguel Sánchez. These paintings are considered one of the most valuable elements of the building and represent a significant contribution to the Sevillian pictorial landscape of the early 20th century.
With this decision, the Seville city council has reaffirmed its commitment to the conservation and protection of the city's historical and artistic heritage.
