Ceuta Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ceuta Cathedral |
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| Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption | |
| Catedral de Santa Maria de la Asunción | |
West façade in 2015.
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| 35°53′17″N 5°19′01″W / 35.88807°N 5.31687°W | |
| Location | Ceuta |
| Country | Spain |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Dedication | Assumption of Mary |
| Dedicated | 1726 |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Neoclassical, Baroque, Renaissance |
| Groundbreaking | 1686 |
| Administration | |
| Metropolis | Seville |
| Diocese | Cádiz and Ceuta |
The Cathedral of St Mary of the Assumption is a beautiful Roman Catholic church. Its full name in Spanish is Catedral de Santa María de la Asunción. This important building is located in the Spanish city of Ceuta. Ceuta is a small part of Spain found on the northwest coast of Africa.
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A Look at Ceuta Cathedral
The Ceuta Cathedral is a very old and important building. It has a rich history that goes back many centuries. Over time, different buildings have stood on this same spot.
From Ancient Church to Mosque
Long ago, in the 6th century, an early Christian church stood here. Some experts think it was built by Emperor Justinian I. Later, this church was replaced by the Great Mosque of Ceuta. This mosque was described as very grand and beautiful. Even though it was made bigger over time, not much of it remains today.
The Cathedral's Beginnings
In 1415, Portugal took control of Ceuta. After this, the Great Mosque was changed into a Christian church. We don't have many details about how it was changed. As years passed, the building became old and was damaged by wars.
By the end of the 1600s, it was decided that a new church was needed. A new design was created by an architect named Juan de Ochoa. Building work started in 1686. However, there were many challenges. Ceuta was under a long siege, which made construction difficult. The new cathedral was finally finished and opened in 1726. It was dedicated to the Assumption of Our Lady.
What You Can Find Inside
The cathedral is not just a church. It also has other important buildings attached to it. These include:
- The vicariate, which helps run the church.
- The secretariat, for official papers.
- The diocesan archive, where old records are kept.
- A library.
- The cathedral museum, which shows its history and treasures.
- The bishop's palace, where the bishop lives. This palace surrounds a small courtyard.
Inside the cathedral, there are many interesting things to see. Some of the most important sights are:
- The Chapel of the Most Holy Trinity.
- A beautiful Baroque altarpiece.
- Frescoes, which are wall paintings, by an artist named Miguel Bernardini.
- Three large paintings.
- A 15th-century statue of the Great Virgin. This statue came from Portugal.
