Church of San Salvador (Seville) facts for kids

Exterior of the church, seen from Plaza del Salvador

The Church of San Salvador is a beautiful church located in Seville, Spain. It is a very important building in the city. In fact, it is the second-largest church in Seville, right after the city's main cathedral, the Seville Cathedral.

History of the Church

From Mosque to Church

Long ago, in the year 830, a large mosque called the Ibn Adabbas Mosque stood on this very spot. It was the main place of worship for Muslims in Seville during a time when a group called the Umayyads ruled a part of Spain known as al-Andalus. This mosque was one of the oldest in al-Andalus, built even before the famous Great Mosque of Cordoba.

The mosque had a special design. It was a "hypostyle" building, which means it had many rows of columns supporting the roof. Imagine a big hall with eleven long sections, separated by rows of brick arches resting on marble columns.

Building a New Church

In 1248, a big event happened: the city of Seville was taken over by the Crown of Castile, a powerful kingdom in Spain. After this, the mosque was changed into a Christian church. It was given the name San Salvador, which means 'Holy Savior'.

For many years, the building stayed mostly the same. But by 1669, it was in very bad shape. An important church leader, an archbishop named Payno Osorio, saw that it was dangerous. He decided the old building had to be taken down.

Work on a brand new church began in 1674. It took many years to build, finally finishing in 1712. This new building is the grand, detailed church you see today. It is a great example of Baroque architecture, a style known for being very decorative and dramatic. The church stands proudly overlooking the Plaza del Salvador, a busy square in Seville.

Location Details

See also

In Spanish: Iglesia del Salvador (Sevilla) para niños