Basilica of Jesús de Medinaceli in Madrid: opening hours and the Friday foot-kissing
The Basilica of Jesús de Medinaceli, on Plaza de Jesús near Calle de Atocha, holds one of the most venerated images in Madrid: Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno de Medinaceli, known to Madrileños simply as "Jesús de Medinaceli". Every Friday, worshippers come to kiss the statue's foot (the "besapié"), and on the first Friday of March the queue winds through the whole neighbourhood. Entry is free; visit quietly and outside services.
Highlights
The façade on Plaza de Jesús
A 20th-century brick building in a quiet spot, a few minutes from the Prado and Calle de Atocha. The square is where people wait on busy days.
The interior and the camarín
The nave is decorated with large Byzantine-style paintings. The image of Jesús de Medinaceli stands high up in the camarín behind the altar; worshippers reach it from the side.
The Friday foot-kissing
Every Friday, veneration of the image continues without a break over long hours. Visitors who are not believers can watch from the nave without joining the queue.
The first Friday of March
The big day: thousands of Madrileños sometimes wait for hours to kiss the image's foot and make, according to tradition, three wishes. Avoid the area if you are not there for it. For the Holy Week processions, see our page on Holy Week in Madrid.
Practical info
Tips
Free entry, conditions checked in October 2026. Modest dress and silence are expected; sightseeing comes second to services. On the first Friday of March, expect several hours' wait and nearby streets closed. To round off the visit: the churches of Madrid, the Barrio de las Letras and the Prado Museum, a few minutes' walk away.
How to get there
Plaza de Jesús 2, 28014 Madrid. Metro Antón Martín (line 1) or Banco de España (line 2), then a few minutes' walk.
Opening hours
Nearby
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