Albacete Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Albacete Cathedral |
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| Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist | |
| Catedral de San Juan Bautista | |
West Gothic revival façade.
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| 38°59′45″N 1°51′22″W / 38.995728°N 1.856202°W | |
| Location | Albacete |
| Country | Spain |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Dedication | John the Baptist |
| Dedicated | 5 May 1955 |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Mudejar, Gothic revival, Romanesque revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1515 |
| Administration | |
| Metropolis | Toledo |
| Diocese | Albacete (since 1949) |
The Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist (also known as Catedral de San Juan Bautista in Spanish) is a large Roman Catholic church found in Albacete, Spain. It is a very important building. Because of its historical and artistic value, it was named a Bien de Interés Cultural (a special heritage site) in 1982.
Contents
History of Albacete Cathedral
The Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist has a long and interesting history. It was built on the site of an older church.
Building the First Church
The original church of San Juan was started in 1515. It replaced an even older building. This older building was built in the Mudéjar style. Mudéjar is a unique Spanish architectural style. It mixes Christian and Islamic art. At that time, Albacete was part of the Diocese of Cartagena.
Changes Over the Centuries
In the 1500s, the church underwent big changes. The old Gothic-style ceilings, called vaults, were taken down. They were replaced with new ones in the Baroque style. Baroque architecture is known for being very grand and decorative.
Bells and New Status
In 1936, the church's bells were melted down. New bells were put in place in 1947. After this time, in 1949, the main front part of the church, called the principal facade, was finished. Also in 1949, the Diocese of Albacete was created. This meant the church became a "cathedral." A cathedral is the main church of a diocese.
Finishing Touches
The side facade of the cathedral was completed in 1960. This part was built in a Romanesque revival style. This style looks back to the older, strong Romanesque architecture.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Albacete para niños
