Santa María la Mayor was built in the late 15th century on the site of the main mosque of Moorish Vélez-Málaga, and that layering is still visible in its architecture. The exterior shows the characteristic Axarquían mudéjar style — brick and stone combined with ornamental detail that reflects the craft tradition of the Moorish builders who remained and converted after the Christian conquest. The church was consecrated in 1490, just three years after the city fell.
Inside, the space retains the proportions of the mosque that preceded it, with a wide nave and notable artesonado (coffered wooden ceiling) work in the mudéjar tradition. The tower incorporates material from the original minaret — a common feature of Andalusian churches of this period, where the conquest was literal as well as religious. The church is the centrepiece of the upper old town and surrounded by a small plaza that makes a good stopping point in any walk up to the fortress. It's open during the day for visitors except during services.