Church of Saint Anthony of the Germans facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of Saint Anthony of the Germans |
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| Native name Spanish: Iglesia de San Antonio de los Alemanes |
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| Location | Madrid, Spain |
| Official name: Iglesia de San Antonio de los Alemanes | |
| Type | Non-movable |
| Criteria | Monument |
| Designated | 1973 |
| Reference no. | RI-51-0003915 |
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The Church of Saint Anthony of the Germans (in Spanish: San Antonio de los Alemanes) is a beautiful old church in Madrid, Spain. It's known for its amazing inside decorations. These decorations are in the Baroque style, which was popular a long time ago. This church is a very important historical building in Spain. It was officially recognized as a special cultural site in 1973.
Contents
History of the Church
Building a Home for Travelers
This church was built a long time ago, between the 1620s and 1630s. It was designed by an architect named Pedro Sánchez. King Philip III of Spain had it built. He also built a place for people to stay and a hospital next to it.
At first, this church was for Portuguese people. Many Portuguese people moved to Madrid when Portugal was part of Spain. So, the church was first called Hospital de los Portugueses.
A New Name for a New Purpose
Later, Portugal became an independent country again. Because of this, the church's purpose changed. Queen Mariana de Austria, who was King Philip IV's wife, decided to dedicate the church to German immigrants. That's how it got its current name: Saint Anthony of the Germans.
Today, a group called the Hermandad del Refugio (which means "Fraternity of Sanctuary") takes care of the church. They continue to help people in need. They offer food and shelter to homeless people in Madrid.
Who Was Saint Anthony?
The church is named after Saint Anthony of Padua. He is known as the patron saint of the poor. Saint Anthony was born in Lisbon, Portugal, in 1198. He became a friar, first with the Augustinians, then with the Franciscans.
He was famous for his powerful sermons. He traveled and preached in France and Italy. Saint Anthony died in Padua, Italy, in 1231, when he was only 36 years old. Many people believe he is the patron saint for finding lost or misplaced items.
Amazing Art Inside
The inside of the church is filled with beautiful paintings called frescoes. These were painted by two famous artists: Luca Giordano and Francisco Ricci.
Luca Giordano was a very busy painter from Naples. He worked for King Charles II of Spain from 1692 to 1702. He painted in many important places, like the Royal Palace of Aranjuez. People called him "Luca-get-it-done-fast" because he painted so quickly! There's a story that the Queen once asked him what his wife looked like. He then painted her image right into the artwork he was working on!
Francisco Ricci was the son of an Italian painter. He came to Madrid to help decorate the Escorial Monastery.
This beautiful Baroque church is easy to find. It's just a short walk from a famous street called Gran Vía. The closest subway station is Callao.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de San Antonio de los Alemanes para niños- Catholic Church in Spain
