Cathedral of Santa María de Vitoria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of Santa María de Vitoria |
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View from the Plaza de Santa María
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| 42°51′02″N 2°40′21″W / 42.850689°N 2.672431°W | |
| Location | Vitoria-Gasteiz, Álava, Basque Country |
| Country | Spain |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| Tradition | Latin Church |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral, minor basilica |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Gothic |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Archidiocese of Burgos |
| Diocese | Diocese of Vitoria |
The Cathedral of Santa María de Vitoria is a beautiful and old Catholic cathedral. It is located in Vitoria-Gasteiz, a city in the Basque Country, Spain. This impressive building is designed in the Gothic style, known for its tall arches and detailed decorations.
The cathedral is very important historically and culturally. In 1931, it was declared a Bien de Interés Cultural, which means it's a protected cultural site in Spain. Later, in 2015, it became part of a World Heritage Site. This happened because it is a key stop on the famous Camino de Santiago, a historic pilgrimage route.
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History of the Cathedral
Building a Gothic Masterpiece
The construction of the Cathedral of Santa María began a long time ago. Work started in the late 1200s and continued through the 1300s. It was built in the Gothic style, which was very popular for churches at that time.
Originally, this cathedral was designed to be more than just a church. It was also meant to be a fortress church. This means it had very thick walls and a strong, enclosed look. It was built this way to help protect the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz.
From Collegiate Church to Cathedral
For many years, from 1496 to 1861, the building was known as a collegiate church. This is a church that has a college of canons, who are priests living together. In 1861, it was officially declared a cathedral. This means it became the main church for a bishop's area, called a diocese.
The cathedral has a special shape called a Latin-cross plan. This means it looks like a cross from above, with a long main section and shorter arms. It also has a wide area where the main part crosses the arms, and a round end section with several small chapels.
Beautiful Sculptures and Portals
The outside of the cathedral, especially the main entrance, is very decorative. The western side has three large doorways, called portals, which are covered in amazing sculptures.
- The central portal is dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
- The portal on the left side honors San Gil.
- The portal on the right side shows scenes of the Final Judgement and Saint James.
These sculptures tell stories and teach about religious figures. They are a great example of the artistic skill of the people who built the cathedral.
Restoring a Historic Building
Today, the Cathedral of Santa María is undergoing important restoration work. A group called the Santa Maria Cathedral Foundation manages this project. They also offer guided tours, allowing visitors to see the ongoing work and learn about the cathedral's history. This helps to preserve this incredible building for future generations.
