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. You can find it in the Spanish city of Ceuta. Ceuta is a small piece of Spain located on the northwest coast of Africa. This important building is also known as the Catedral de Santa María de la Asunción in Spanish.
Contents
A Look at Its History
The land where the cathedral stands has a long and interesting past.
From Ancient Church to Mosque
Long ago, in the 6th century, an old Christian church stood here. Some experts believe it was built by Emperor Justinian I. Later, this church was replaced by a large mosque. Descriptions from that time say the mosque was very grand and beautiful. Even though it was made bigger over the years, not much of it remains today.
The Cathedral's Beginning
In 1415, the Portuguese took control of Ceuta. They changed the Great Mosque into a Christian church. We don't have many details about these changes. Over time, the building became old and was damaged by wars.
By the late 1600s, it was decided to build a brand new church. The architect Juan de Ochoa designed it. Construction started in 1686. However, building was very difficult because Ceuta was under a long siege. This meant the city was surrounded and attacked for many years. Because of these challenges, the new cathedral was not finished until 1726. It was then dedicated to the Assumption of Our Lady.
What You Can Find Inside
The Ceuta Cathedral is home to many interesting things.
Important Areas and Art
Inside the cathedral, you can visit the Chapel of the Most Holy Trinity. There is also a stunning Baroque altarpiece. This is a large, decorated screen behind the altar. You can also see beautiful frescoes painted by Miguel Bernardini. Frescoes are paintings done on wet plaster.
The cathedral also has three large paintings. One very special item is a figure of the Great Virgin from the 15th century. This statue originally came from Portugal.
Other Buildings Nearby
Next to the cathedral, there is another building. This building holds offices for the church, like the vicariate and the diocesan archive. It also has a library and a museum for the cathedral. The bishop's palace is also nearby. It surrounds a small, triangular courtyard.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de la Asunción (Ceuta) para niños
