Church of Santa María la Mayor (Talavera de la Reina) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of Santa María la Mayor |
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Iglesia de Santa María la Mayor
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Gothic–Mudéjar |
| Classification | Bien de Interés Cultural |
| Address | Plaza del Pan |
| Town or city | Talavera de la Reina |
| Country | Spain |
| Coordinates | 39°57′29″N 4°49′56″W / 39.958064°N 4.832109°W |
The Church of Santa María la Mayor (in Spanish: iglesia de Santa María la Mayor) is a beautiful Roman Catholic church located in Talavera de la Reina, Spain. For many years, from 1211 to 1851, it was known as a collegiate church (colegiata de Santa María). This meant it was a special church with a group of priests who lived and worked together, but it wasn't a cathedral.
Contents
History of the Church
How Old Is It?
This church has a very long history! The first time anyone wrote about it was way back in 1194. Before the church was built, an old mosque stood in the same spot. In 1211, a very important person, the Archbishop of Toledo Rodrigo Jiménez de Rada, made it a special "collegiate church."
What Does It Look Like?
The Church of Santa María la Mayor has a really interesting look. It combines two main styles: Gothic and Mudéjar. This mix makes it look similar to the Monastery of Guadalupe.
Changes Over Time
The church has grown and changed over hundreds of years. A special covered walkway, called a cloister, was added by 1469. Many smaller chapels were built inside the church during the 15th and 16th centuries. These chapels show both Gothic and Renaissance styles. The front part of the church, called the façade, was finished in 1783.
Sadly, the church was damaged during the French invasion of Spain, which was part of the Peninsular War. In 1851, the church stopped being a collegiate church.
Keeping It Safe
In 1931, the Church of Santa María la Mayor was declared a monumento histórico-artístico. This means it was recognized as an important historical and artistic building. Today, it is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural, which is a very high level of protection for important Spanish heritage sites.
See also
In Spanish: Colegiata de Santa María (Talavera de la Reina) para niños
