Cathedral of the Savior of Zaragoza facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of the Savior of Zaragoza |
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Catedral del Salvador de Zaragoza
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La Seo at night
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Catholic |
| Province | Archdiocese of Zaragoza |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Cathedral |
| Year consecrated | 1318 |
| Location | |
| Location | Zaragoza, Spain |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Romanesque, Gothic, Mudéjar |
| Criteria | Cultural: (iv) |
| Designated | 2001 (25th session) |
| Parent listing | Mudéjar Architecture of Aragon |
| Reference no. | 378-010 |
| Type | Non-movable |
| Criteria | Monument |
| 3 June 1931 | |
| RI-51-0001028 | |
The Cathedral of the Savior (in Spanish, Catedral del Salvador), often called La Seo de Zaragoza, is a large Catholic church in Zaragoza, Spain. It is a very important building. It is part of a special World Heritage Site called Mudéjar Architecture of Aragon. This means it's recognized globally for its unique style.
The cathedral is in Plaza de la Seo. People usually call it La Seo to tell it apart from the nearby El Pilar. "Seo" means "see" in the local language, referring to the bishop's main church. Both cathedrals share the title of co-cathedral in Zaragoza.
Contents
History of La Seo
Ancient Beginnings
The spot where La Seo stands has a long history. It was once the main forum of the Roman city of Caesaraugusta. The forum was the city's center for business and public life. It also held the main temple. You can find the Museum of the Forum below the Plaza del Pilar today.
From Mosque to Church
A long time ago, in the 8th century, a large mosque was built here. It was one of the oldest mosques in Al-Andalus, which was a Muslim-ruled area of Spain. Over the years, the mosque was made bigger twice. During a restoration in 1999, workers found parts of the old mosque. They found traces of its tall tower, called a minaret, and its original floor.
In 1118, King Alfonso I took Zaragoza back for the Christians. He gave the Muslim residents one year to leave. On October 4, 1121, the mosque became a Christian church. It was named San Salvador, meaning "Holy Savior." Changes were made to make it suitable for Christian worship.
The Romanesque Cathedral
Building a new Christian cathedral started around 1140. This new church was in the Romanesque style. It had a main hall, called a transept, and three smaller halls, called naves. These halls ended in rounded sections called apses. The church was built from stone. It looked a lot like the Cathedral of Jaca.
From this time, you can still see the lower parts of two of the apses. They have small windows and special decorations. Inside, there are sculptures hidden behind the main altar. Kings of Aragon were crowned in this church from 1204 until the 15th century. This was a special right given by the Pope. The last king crowned here was Charles I in 1518. Many royal baptisms, weddings, and burials also happened here.
The Gothic-Mudéjar Cathedral
In 1318, Zaragoza became an archbishopric. This made La Seo a very important cathedral. Builders started using bricks and plaster, which were easy to find. They built a Gothic church with three naves. The middle nave was made taller. This allowed for beautiful stained glass windows.
Around 1346, a special Mudéjar dome was added. It brought more light to the altar area. This work finished in 1376. It made the cathedral feel very open and bright. In 1360, the main front of the cathedral was updated. The special chapel called the Parroquieta was also built. This chapel was designed as a private burial place. Its outer walls have amazing geometric patterns made from brick and glazed tiles. The inside roof is made of gilded wood in the Mudéjar style.
Renaissance Changes
In 1403, the old dome fell down. A new one was built in the shape of a Papal Tiara. It was decorated in 1409. The main altar was also built during this time, between 1431 and 1456. It was made to make the inside of the cathedral even more beautiful.
In 1485, a church official named Pedro de Arbués was killed in the cathedral. He was a leader of the Spanish Inquisition in Aragon. Some people in Aragon did not like the Inquisition. They saw it as a challenge to their local laws and rights. Pedro de Arbués was later made a saint. His tomb is inside the cathedral.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, La Seo was a major center for music. Many famous musicians worked and composed here.
Recent Centuries
For a long time, there was a rivalry between the church leaders of El Pilar and La Seo. In 1676, the Pope decided to combine the two groups of leaders. This helped to end the arguments.
Also in the 17th century, the old Mudéjar tower was taken down. A new Baroque tower was started in 1686. It was finished in 1704 with a tall spire on top. The front entrance of the cathedral was built in the 18th century. It has an Italian-Baroque style.
In the late 20th century, the cathedral went through a big restoration. This work lasted about 23 years. They fixed the pillars, roofs, and windows. They also did archaeological digs. The tower, spire, and main altar were restored. Many chapels were cleaned and repaired. The tapestry museum was also updated. This huge project cost a lot of money.
Architectural Styles
La Seo is a mix of many different building styles. It stands on the site of an ancient Roman forum and a Muslim mosque. Parts of the mosque's minaret are even in the current tower. Building started in the 12th century in the Romanesque style. It was changed and expanded many times until 1704.
Here are the main styles you can see at La Seo:
- Romanesque: You can see this style on the outside and lower part of the apse. The inside of the Romanesque apse is still there, but it's now covered by the Gothic altar.
- Gothic: This style is mixed with Mudéjar, especially on the upper outside of the apse. The three central naves have Gothic arches. The main altar is a magnificent piece made of painted alabaster. The cathedral also has a huge collection of Flemish tapestries. It is one of the biggest collections in the world.
- Mudéjar: This is a unique Spanish style that blends Christian and Muslim art. You can see it on the outer wall of the San Miguel chapel. Its interior roof is gilded wood. The Aragonese Mudéjar style is a World Heritage Site.
- Renaissance: The tomb of Archbishop Don López Fernández de Luna in the San Miguel chapel is from the 16th century. There is also a dome with Mudéjar influences from the early 16th century.
- Baroque: The tall tower and the main entrance gate are in the Baroque style.
The cathedral's museum has been recently restored. It is open to the public. It shows off one of the world's best collections of tapestries.
Inside La Seo
When you enter La Seo, you'll find many beautiful chapels.
Chapels on the Right Side
- Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows: This chapel is in a late Gothic style. It has a Baroque altar.
- Chapel of San Valero: This chapel has a beautiful gilded wooden entrance from the 17th century. It shows scenes of saints.
- Chapel of Saint Helen: Also called the Chapel of the Most Holy Sacrament. Its altar and paintings are Baroque works from the 17th century.
- Chapel of the Archangels: This chapel was built in the late 16th century as a burial place. It has Renaissance altar decorations and a bronze gate.
- Chapel of Santo Dominguito de Val: This Baroque chapel from the 18th century holds the remains of the saint. It has a detailed dome.
- Chapel of St. Augustine: It features Renaissance altar decorations with sculptures.
- Chapel of Saint Pedro Arbués: This chapel has 17th-century paintings. It also has a sculpture of Saint Pedro Arbués under a special canopy.
Chapels on the Left Side
- Chapel of St. Bernard: This is one of the most important works of the Aragonese Renaissance. It holds the tombs of Archbishop Hernando de Aragón and his mother. The altar decorations are made of alabaster.
- Chapel of St. Benedict
- Chapel of St. Mark
- Chapel of the Birth of Christ: It has 16th-century altar decorations and a Renaissance gate.
- Chapel of Saints Justa and Rufina: This chapel has paintings from the 17th century.
- Chapel of St. Vincent: It has a Baroque entrance and a sculpture of St. Vincent.
- Chapel of St. James the Great: This chapel features a 1695 painting and a 16th-century sculpture of St. James.
The Choir
- The choir section has 117 oak seats. It is surrounded by a bronze gate with gilded wooden sculptures.
- The organ is very old. It has parts from the 15th to the 18th century. The current organ was put together between 1857 and 1859.
- Behind the choir is the Chapel of the Holy Christ. It has a sculpture of Christ on the cross, Mary, and St. John. This sculpture is under a canopy with black marble columns.
The Apses
- Chapel of the Virgen Blanca (White Virgin): This chapel has a Baroque wooden altar with paintings. It also has a 15th-century alabaster sculpture of the Virgin and child.
- Main Altar: This altar is dedicated to the Savior. It was created from alabaster and painted by many artists between 1434 and 1480. It is considered one of the greatest Gothic sculptures in Europe.
- Chapel of St. Peter and St. Paul: This chapel has gilded wooden altar decorations. They show scenes from the lives of Saints Peter and Paul.
See also
- Catholic Church in Spain
- Aljafería
- History of medieval Arabic and Western European domes
Images for kids
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Romanesque apse with Mudéjar and Gothic additions
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Frontal view of both apses
