Basilica of San Vicente facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Basilica of San Vicente |
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Basílica de los Santos Hermanos Mártires, Vicente, Sabina y Cristeta
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Status | Church |
| Location | |
| Location | Ávila, Spain |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| Criteria | Cultural: (iii), (iv) |
| Designated | 1985 (9th session) |
| Parent listing | Old Town of Ávila with its Extra-Muros Churches |
| Reference no. | 348-003 |
| Type | Non-movable |
| Criteria | Monument |
| 26 July 1882 | |
| RI-51-0000031 | |
The Basilica of San Vicente is a famous church in Ávila, Spain. Its full name is Basílica de los Santos Hermanos Mártires, Vicente, Sabina y Cristeta. This means "Basilica of the Saintly Brother and Sister Martyrs, Vicente, Sabina, and Cristeta." It is known as one of Spain's best examples of Romanesque style.
Contents
The Story of the Basilica
The Legend of the Martyrs
A very old story tells us about three siblings: Vicente, Sabina, and Cristeta. They were Christians who lived when the Roman Emperor Diocletian was in charge. Because of their beliefs, they were killed. People who are killed for their faith are called martyrs.
The legend says their bodies were buried in a hollowed-out rock. Later, a small church was built over their tomb to honor them.
Building the Basilica
For a long time, the remains of the three martyrs were kept safe in their church. In 1062, their bodies were moved to a monastery in another city. But in 1175, they were brought back to Ávila.
This is when the people of Ávila decided to build a grand new church where the martyrs were first buried. This new church is the Basilica of San Vicente we see today.
Building the basilica took a very long time. Work often had to stop and start again. It was finally finished in the 1300s. Two Spanish kings, Alfonso X and Sancho IV, helped support the project so it could be completed.
What the Church Looks Like
The church was designed by an architect named Giral Fruchel. He was famous for bringing the Gothic style of building from France to Spain. The church is mostly in an older style called Romanesque, but it has some Gothic features, like its cross-vaulted ceilings.
The stone used to build the church came from nearby quarries in La Colilla. The stone looks like sandstone, but it is actually a type of granite that has broken down over time.
Outside the Church
When you look at the basilica from the outside, you will notice two very fancy doorways. These are the western and southern entrances. They are covered in amazing stone carvings that tell stories.
Inside the Church
Inside, the church has a floor plan shaped like a Latin cross. It has a long main hall called a nave and two smaller halls on each side called aisles.
The most famous thing inside is a special monument for the martyrs, Vicente, Sabina, and Cristeta. This is called a cenotaph, which is a tomb-like monument for people who are buried somewhere else. It is made of stone that has been painted in many bright colors. The carvings on the cenotaph are considered some of the best examples of Romanesque art.
The church also holds a statue of the Virgen de la Soterraña, which means "Our Lady of the Underground." She is the patron saint of the city of Ávila.
A Special Protected Place
The Basilica of San Vicente is very important to history and art. Because of this, it is protected as part of a World Heritage Site. This special status is given by an organization called UNESCO.
The site is called the "Old Town of Avila and its extra muros churches." Extra muros is a Latin phrase that means "outside the walls." The basilica is one of ten churches outside Ávila's main city walls that are part of this protected area.
See also
In Spanish: Basílica de San Vicente (Ávila) para niños
