Church of San Salvador de Valdediós facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of the Holy Savior of ValdediósIglesia de San Salvador de Valdediós |
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Province | Asturias |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Church |
| Year consecrated | 893 |
| Location | |
| Location |  Oviedo, Spain |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Pre-Romanesque |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 16 metres (52 ft) |
| Width | 13.3 metres (44 ft) |
| Website | |
| Official Website: http://www.valdedios.org/ | |
The Church of the Holy Savior of Valdediós (which in Spanish is Iglesia de San Salvador de Valdediós) is an old Roman Catholic church. It is located near Villaviciosa in Asturias, Spain. This church is a great example of Pre-Romanesque architecture. This means it was built before the Romanesque style became popular.
The church is found in the beautiful Boides valley. This area has a lot of history. Long ago, there was an old monastery here. It was first run by Benedictine monks, then by Cistercian monks. The church itself is sometimes called the "Bishops' Chapel." It was officially opened on September 16, 893. Seven bishops were there for this special event. Today, the church stands right next to the Monasterio de Santa María de Valdediós.
Exploring the Church's Design
The Church of the Holy Savior of Valdediós has a classic church layout. It has a main central area called a nave. On each side, there are smaller aisles. Four rounded arches separate the main nave from these side aisles.
At the back of the church, there are three special rooms. The middle room is an entrance area, like a lobby. The two rooms on either side might have been used by travelers or pilgrims. The ceilings in the main nave and the back rooms are curved, like a barrel. They are made of brick and decorated with colorful paintings. These paintings show different geometric shapes and patterns.
The Royal Viewing Area
Above the entrance area, there is a special balcony. This is called the royal tribune. It was a private space, probably for important people like kings or queens. This area was separate from where the regular people sat. It was also separated from the altar area, where religious ceremonies took place. Iron grilles used to divide these spaces, but they are gone now.
The church has some unique features. One is a covered walkway on the south side. This was added later and is called the Royal Portico. Inside, the columns supporting the main arches are quite large, about 50 centimeters (20 inches) wide. The central back room has a window with three arches. Above this room, there is another small room. You can only get into this room from the outside through a window. This window has two openings, which is a bit unusual for churches of this time.
See also
In Spanish: San Salvador de Valdediós para niños
- Asturian art
- Catholic Church in Spain
