Arco del Pópulo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Arco del Pópulo |
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| Location | Cádiz, Spain |
| Type | Non-movable |
| Criteria | Monument |
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The Arco del Pópulo is an old archway in the city of Cádiz, located in southern Spain. It's a very important historical site, recognized as a Bien de Interés Cultural (a special heritage status).
This archway was once known as the "Puerta del Mar" or "Sea Gate." It was the main entrance to the port area of Cádiz. In the early 1600s, a small chapel dedicated to Nuestra Señora del Pópulo was built in front of it. This chapel gave the arch its current look, making it seem like a covered passageway.
The inner walls of the arch show building styles from Islamic walls built between the 10th and 11th centuries. The arch itself might have originally been shaped like a horseshoe. Based on how its stones (called voussoirs) are arranged, experts believe it was built in the 12th century. This was during the Almohad period, when much of the original city wall was also constructed.
History of the Sea Gate
The Arco del Pópulo was first called the "Door of the Sea" or the "Main Door of the Villa." This was because the waters of the bay used to come very close to it. What is now the Plaza de San Juan de Dios was once a canal connecting the bay and a smaller inlet called Caleta. This canal served as the real pier and main trading port for Cádiz.
Over time, the canal started to fill in. It became small lagoons, which were eventually covered up. One lagoon was filled around 1618, and another by 1628. The area then became a kind of shipyard for smaller boats.
The entrance facing the bay had a special defense structure called a ravelin. It was also protected by two large, strong towers with battlements (crenellated cubes). A clock, built by a watchmaker from Osuna, was placed on the right tower.
Our Lady of Pópulo
From 1587, the towers of the arch held a statue of the Virgin Mary. It had a Latin saying: "Ave María, ora por Pópulo," which means "Hail Mary, pray for the people." People started calling the statue simply "El Pópulo."
In 1596, invaders from England and the Netherlands attacked Cádiz. They were led by the Earl of Essex. During this invasion, the statue was damaged.
To prevent future damage, a chapel was started in 1598. It was built between the two towers, right over the archway.
Important people, like bishops, would enter the city through this arch. They would be met by city officials. Also, when city council members needed to attend special events, they would meet at the exit of the Arco del Pópulo.
The original statue on the door was called Our Lady of Antigua. Later, in 1735, a chaplain asked for a new statue of the Virgin of Antigua to be placed at the new Puerta del Mar. This Virgin was very important to sailors and was worshipped for centuries. This devotion to the Virgin of Antigua eventually led to the creation of a special religious group, which met in a place that became known as the Santa Cueva.
See also
In Spanish: Arco del Pópulo para niños
