Church of San Román, Toledo Facts for Kids

The Iglesia de San Román is a beautiful old church in Toledo, Spain. It was built a long time ago, in the 1200s. This church is special because it was built in a unique style called Mudéjar. Before the church, there might have been older buildings here, even from Roman and Visigothic times. Today, the church is protected as an important historical building. It is also home to a museum about the Visigoths, called the "Museum of the Councils and Visigothic Culture".

History of the Church
What the Church Looks Like
- Special Features and Art
Images for kids
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History of the Church

Tower of the church

The Iglesia de San Román stands on one of the highest spots in Toledo. People knew about a church here as early as the 1100s. The church we see today was officially opened in 1221. An important event happened here: Alfonso VIII was crowned King of Castile on August 26, 1166.

What the Church Looks Like

The church has a special layout with three main sections, called naves. These sections are separated by horseshoe arches. These arches have a rectangular frame around them, known as an alfiz. The arches rest on strong pillars. Some of the columns used in the church are very old. They came from earlier Visigothic or Roman buildings. You can spot them by their fancy tops, called capitals, which often have Corinthian leaves carved into them.

Special Features and Art

During the 1200s, new parts were added to the church. A new apse, which is the rounded end of the church, was built. The tall, strong tower was also constructed. This tower is a great example of Toledo's Mudéjar style. It has two upper levels with double belfries and windows grouped in twos and threes. This tower became a model for other towers in Toledo.

Inside the church, you can see amazing murals painted directly on the walls. These are fresco paintings, meaning they were done on wet plaster. They mix Romanesque painting styles with Mudéjar designs. These paintings are considered some of the most southern examples of Romanesque art in Spain. They show figures like the four winged evangelists, archbishops, and saints such as Stephen and Lawrence. There are also angels and a scene of the Final Judgment.

In the 1500s, a famous architect named Alonso de Covarrubias designed the main chapel's apse. He added a Plateresque dome with coffers, which are sunken panels. Sadly, these new additions covered up the old paintings. For a long time, no one knew they were there. It wasn't until the early 1900s that the paintings were rediscovered. Then, in the 1940s, efforts were made to carefully uncover and restore them.