Church of Saint Martin of Tours, Frómista facts for kids
The Church of Saint Martin of Tours is a very old church in Frómista, a town in Palencia, Spain. It was built in the 11th century in a style called Romanesque. This church is an important stop on the Way of St. James, a famous pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela.
History of the Church
Building the church began in the second half of the 11th century. Queen Muniadona of Castile wanted it built as part of a monastery. That monastery is no longer there today.
The church was first mentioned in records in the year 1066. Its style is similar to other Romanesque buildings along the Way of St. James. Examples include the Cathedral of Jaca and San Isidoro de León.
In 1118, the church became part of a Benedictine monastery in Carrión de los Condes. The monks left the church in the 13th century. Over the next few centuries, the church changed owners many times. In the 15th century, some new parts were added. These included a bell tower on top of the original dome and a room called a sacristy.
After the Middle Ages, the church started to fall apart. By the 19th century, it was too old to be used as a church. In 1894, it was named a National Monument. This meant it was an important historical building.
A big restoration project then began. Workers brought the church back to its original look. They removed many of the parts that had been added later. The church was opened to the public again in 1904.
What the Church Looks Like
The Church of Saint Martin of Tours in Frómista has a classic Romanesque look. The front of the church has three levels. These levels show the different heights of the main hall and the side aisles inside. On each side of the church are two round bell towers.
The part of the church that crosses the main hall, called the transept, is as tall as the central hall. Inside, where these parts cross, there is an eight-sided dome that goes upwards. The main hall and the side aisles have curved stone roofs called barrel vaults. They all end with three rounded sections called apses.
The church has four entrances, but only two are used today. The walls look very strong and solid. The few windows are set into rounded arches. All four sides of the church have about 300 small stone carvings on top. These carvings show human faces, animals, and fantasy creatures. Above the main entrance, there is a special symbol called a chrismon with six arms.
Many talented artists worked on the church's sculptures. One famous artist was known as the "Maestro de la Orestíada." He was inspired by an old Roman tomb from a nearby town. His sculptures are very detailed and look natural, like classical Greek and Roman art. Other sculptors also worked on the church. Even with different artists, all the sculptures look like they belong together.
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Plan of the church
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Left side aisle
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Central nave
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Crossing tower
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A carved stone capital
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The inside of the church has a layout like a basilica. It has four main sections, separated by large pillars. The main hall and the side aisles are separated by arches that are not very tall. The central hall does not have windows high up on its walls. Because of this, the church is called a pseudobasilica. This means the central roof is higher than the side roofs, but without the high windows.
The rounded sections at the end of the church (apses) have several old sculptures. One sculpture is a 13th-century figure of Christ in the main hall. Some of the stone tops of the pillars, called capitals, have carvings. These carvings show plants, people, or even tell stories. For example, you can see carvings of Adam and Eve or the story of the Fox and the Grapes.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de San Martín de Tours (Frómista) para niños
