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Spanish Renaissance architecture facts for kids

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Spanish Renaissance architecture is a special style of building that became popular in Spain in the late 1400s. It was inspired by the Renaissance style that started in Florence and Rome, Italy. This style brought back ideas from old Roman buildings.

In Spain, the Renaissance style mixed with the older Gothic style. This happened as smart builders and engineers learned new ways to design structures. During the time of King Felipe II (1556–1589), this new building style spread across Spain. It was helped by books about architecture from famous designers like Vitruvius and Palladio.

What is Spanish Renaissance Architecture?

The Spanish Renaissance style blended Italian ideas with older Spanish building traditions. Local architects helped this style grow, creating something unique to Spain. They mixed Italian designs, sometimes seen in books and paintings, with Gothic traditions and local tastes.

The Plateresque Style

The first part of Spanish Renaissance architecture is called Plateresque. This name comes from the Spanish word "platero," meaning silversmith. Buildings in this style have very detailed decorations on their outside walls. These decorations look like the fancy work of a silversmith.

Plateresque buildings often use classic Roman columns and candle-like designs. These are put together in balanced patterns. Good examples are the fronts of the University of Salamanca and the Convent of San Marcos in León.

  • Valladolid Santa Cruz 20080

    The Palacio de Santa Cruz in Valladolid, an early Renaissance building.

  • Salamanca Capital - 071 (30600283033)

    The detailed Plateresque front of the University of Salamanca.

  • J23 235 Rotunde, Kuppel

    The dome of the Chapel of El Salvador in Úbeda.

The Purism Style

As time went on, the Gothic influences slowly disappeared. Architects started to focus more on pure, classic Roman styles. While Plateresque was common for a long time, some architects developed a simpler, more serious style. This phase is known as Purism.

Important architects of the Purism style included Diego Siloe and Andrés de Vandelvira in Andalusia. In Castile, Alonso de Covarrubias and Rodrigo Gil de Hontañón were key figures. Their designs were less decorated and more focused on clear, strong shapes.

The Herrerian Style

From the mid-1500s, architects like Pedro Machuca, Juan Bautista de Toledo, and Juan de Herrera followed ancient Roman art even more closely. This sometimes led to a style called Mannerism, which was a step between Renaissance and Baroque.

A great example is the Palace of Charles V in Granada, built by Pedro Machuca. A new style, called Herrerian, began with the work of Juan Bautista de Toledo and Juan de Herrera at El Escorial. This style is very plain and simple. It uses granite stone blocks very well, creating a strong and grand look. The Herrerian style influenced Spanish buildings for over a hundred years, both in Spain and its colonies.

During this time (around 1559–1567), Spanish builders changed how they worked. They combined designing and building into one process. One professional was in charge of the whole design and stayed involved until the building was finished.

Famous Spanish Renaissance Buildings

Here are some notable structures built in the Spanish Renaissance style:

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Arquitectura renacentista española para niños

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