Church of San Pedro de Plecín facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of San Pedro de Plecín |
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| Location | Asturias,  Spain |
The Church of San Pedro de Plecín (which means Iglesia de San Pedro de Plecín in Spanish) is an old Roman Catholic church. You can find it in a place called Alles, which is the main town of Peñamellera Alta in Asturias, Spain.
Contents
A Look at Its Past
This church was likely built on a very old spot where people worshipped even before Christianity. It was constructed in the late 1100s. At first, it was called San Salvador.
Changes Over Time
In the 1200s, the church was made bigger on its west side. Later, in the 1400s, it was updated and a porch was added. Around the 1300s or 1400s, its name changed to San Pedro. In the 1500s, a special chapel for funerals was built on the north side.
Why It Was Left Behind
A family called Mier used to help pay for the church. But they stopped giving money in 1778. A few years later, in 1787, a new church was built in the center of Alles. Because of this, the old San Pedro church was no longer used.
What the Church Looks Like
The Church of San Pedro de Plecín has one main room, called a nave. It also has a straight end section, called an apse. This apse used to be round. The main door is on the south side of the church.
Building Materials and Roof
The apse is made from strong sandstone blocks. These blocks are also used on the roof at the south end. The main room (nave) is built with limestone. The roof over the apse is shaped like a half-cylinder, called a barrel vault. The nave has a wooden ceiling.
The Southern Entrance
The entrance on the south side sits on a raised base. It has a roof made of grooved tiles to protect it. The doorway has four slightly pointed arches. These arches have many decorations, but they are quite worn out now. You can see designs of plants, people, and even fantasy creatures like mermaids and griffins.
The Funeral Chapel
The funeral chapel on the north side is square. It does not have any windows. Its roof is a simple ribbed vault. This type of roof has helped protect the decorative supports underneath it.
Inside the Church Today
Inside, you can still see the bases that held up the columns of a large arch. A piece that might have been part of this arch's top is now in the town of Alles. It has plant designs on it. The straight part before the apse has an arched walkway with three columns on each side. Today, plants and weeds have grown inside the church. However, its old walls were recently cleaned and made stronger.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de San Pedro de Plecín para niños
