Church of San Juan Bautista (Caudiel) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of San Juan Bautista |
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Iglesia de San Juan Bautista
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| General information | |
| Type | Church |
| Architectural style | Baroque |
| Location | Caudiel, Castellón, Valencian Community, Spain |
| Town or city | Caudiel |
| Country |  Spain |
| Coordinates | 39°56′44″N 0°34′03″W / 39.94556°N 0.56750°W |
| Inaugurated | 1616 |
The Church of San Juan Bautista (which means Saint John the Baptist Church in Spanish) is an old and beautiful church in Caudiel, a town in Spain. It's located in the province of Castellón, part of the Valencian Community. This church was first built in 1616 by a person named Pedro Miralles. It originally belonged to the Augustinians, a group of religious people, and was used as a school for philosophy and art.
Later, the Spanish government took control of some church properties. This church was then given to the local community. It was used as a town hall, a school, and even a hospital. However, the main parts of the building, like the chapel, the church itself, and the priest's changing room, have stayed mostly the same. In 1866, the dome of the old parish church collapsed. Today, that building is where the town hall is located.
Contents
About the Church Building
The church itself has a wide main area called a nave. It is shaped like a cross. Connected to this main area are cloisters, which are covered walkways that lead to smaller chapels. The church also has a special type of dome that looks like half an orange. All these parts are built in the Baroque style, which is known for being very grand and decorative.
The Chapel and its Art
The chapel inside the church has a ceiling shaped like a half-cylinder, called a barrel vault. It also has a large, wide arch. The dome is right in the middle of the room. Inside the chapel, there are fourteen large paintings that cover the walls. The altar, which is the table used for religious services, is covered in gold. The chapel's very fancy look makes it stand out.
Famous Paintings
Near the bottom of the walls, there is a decorated section called a plinth, which is covered with tiles. On this plinth, there are seven paintings. These artworks were created by a famous painter from La Mancha named Gaspar de la Huerta. This tiled plinth is considered one of the best examples of Baroque architecture in the Valencian Community.
The Virgin of the Tusk
The church also has a small statue of the Virgin Mary, known as the Virgin of the Lost Child. Locally, people call it the Virgen del Colmillo, which means "Virgin of the Tusk." This is because the statue was carved from an elephant tusk. It was made in the 1400s. People say that Saint Vincent Ferrer carried this small statue with him when he traveled and preached. He arrived at the church in Caudiel on October 21, 1627.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de San Juan Bautista (Caudiel) para niños
