Church of San Pedro de los Francos facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of San Pedro de los Francos |
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| Native name Spanish: Iglesia de San Pedro de los Francos |
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Main altar and apse.
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| Location | Calatayud, Spain |
| Official name: Iglesia de San Pedro de los Francos | |
| Type | Non-movable |
| Criteria | Monument |
| Designated | 1875 |
| Reference no. | RI-51-0000013 |
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The Church of San Pedro de los Francos (in Spanish: Iglesia de San Pedro de los Francos) is a really old and important church located in Calatayud, Spain. You can find it on a street called Via la Rua. This church is so special that it was officially named a Bien de Interés Cultural (which means a "Property of Cultural Interest") way back in 1875.
A Look Back: History of the Church
This church was started by a king named Alfonso I el Batallador. He built it after his army took back the city of Calatayud during the Reconquista. He wanted to thank his French soldiers for their help.
The church you see today was built in the 14th century. It stands on the spot where an even older temple used to be. It has a special style called Mudéjar. This means it mixes Christian and Islamic art styles. The church has three main parts inside, called naves, and curved sections at the end called apses.
Amazing Art and Architecture
The main entrance of the church is in the Gothic style. It has a pointed arch, which is a common feature of Gothic buildings. On either side of the entrance, you can see statues of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. Above the door, there are sculptures of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and Saint John.
Inside, the main altar has a beautiful, golden Retablo. A retablo is a large, decorated screen or wall behind the altar. This one has fancy twisted columns, known as Solomonic columns, which are typical of Baroque art. It was finished in 1654.
Other smaller chapels inside the church also have their own retablos. Some of these have panels in the Renaissance style. You can also find a statue of the Virgin Mary in a small cave-like area, or grotto, within one of the chapels.
Right next to the church, there's an old Mudéjar tower. It's quite famous because it leans over the street!
Want to Learn More?
- In Spanish: Iglesia de San Pedro de los Francos para niños
- List of Bien de Interés Cultural in the Province of Zaragoza
