Church of Santa Maria la Blanca (Seville) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of San Maria la Blanca |
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Assets of cultural interest
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Catholic |
| District | Seville |
| Province | Seville |
| Leadership | Father Miguel Ángel Núñez Aguilera |
| Location | |
| Location | Andalucia Spain |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Borrominesque |
| Funded by | 17th century |
| Inscriptions | Cultural monument on July 25, 1995, November 15, 1995, and June 12, 1995 |
The Church of Santa María la Blanca (in Spanish: Iglesia de Santa Maria la Blanca) is a beautiful church in Seville, Andalusia, Spain. It was built in the 17th century. You can find it in the San Bartolomé neighborhood. This church is also the main home for a special group called the Brotherhood of the Rosary of Our Lady of the Snows.
Contents
History of the Church
From Ancient Times to a Synagogue
Long, long ago, there was a building here from the time of the Visigoths. These were people who lived in Spain many centuries ago. You can still see two old columns from that time on Archeros Street.
Later, in 1248, the city of Seville was taken back by Christian kings. King Ferdinand III gave all the mosques to the Catholic Church. But he gave three buildings in the Jewish quarter to the Jewish people. These became their synagogues. This church's location was one of those synagogues. It was built in the 13th century.
Becoming a Christian Church
In 1391, after some difficult times for the Jewish community, the synagogue was changed into a Christian church. It was built in a style called Gothic-Mudejar. This style mixes European Gothic art with Islamic art from Spain. A new front part of the church was built then.
Rebuilding in the 17th Century
The church was greatly rebuilt in the 17th century. In 1642, a chapel for baptisms was added. Between 1642 and 1646, another chapel was built. The main chapel was finished in 1660.
The biggest changes happened between 1662 and 1665. The main part of the church and its ceilings were rebuilt. A man named Justino de Neve helped pay for these changes. He was a member of a church group. The old stone columns were replaced with new ones made of beautiful red jasper stone.
The amazing decorations on the ceilings were made by artists like Borja and Pedro Roldán. These decorations are made of plaster and look like sculptures.
In 1665, the newly rebuilt church was opened. A special parade was held to celebrate. The church also had a big restoration (repair and cleaning) between 2010 and 2015.
What the Church Looks Like
Outside the Church
The church has two main entrances. The front entrance, on Santa María la Blanca street, looks like a tower. It has a pointed arch at the bottom. Above it, there are three parts. One part has two simple openings. The next part is the belfry, where the bells are. It has two arched openings. The very top has a small belfry with a cross.
Next to the main door, there is a colorful tile. It shows the image of the Virgin of the Snows. This tile was painted in 1957.
On Archeros Street, there is another old doorway. It is not used anymore. It has an arch and two columns with special tops called Corinthian capitals. These columns might be from the old Roman or Visigothic times.
Inside the Church
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The inside of the church is rectangular. It has three long sections, called naves. These are separated by 10 red marble columns. Above the columns, there are arches that hold up the ceilings. The central nave has curved ceilings, and the side naves have different types of curved ceilings.
Above the front part of the central nave, there is a large dome. It has two round windows that let in light.
The most amazing part of the inside is the decoration. The entire ceiling, dome, and arches are covered with detailed plasterwork. This plasterwork has shapes, plants, and figures. It makes the ceilings look like they are moving! There are also paintings that match the plasterwork.
At the back of the right side nave, you'll find the baptismal chapel. This is where the stairs to the tower and choir are. Next to it is the sacramental chapel. This chapel has a special altar from 1722. It holds statues of Christ and the Virgin Mary.
Famous Paintings
The church once had several famous paintings by Murillo, a very well-known Spanish artist. Only one of his paintings, The Supper, painted in 1650, is still in the church.
Two other famous Murillo paintings, The Dream of the Patrician and The Patrician John and his wife before Pope Liberius, used to be here. They tell the story of how the devotion to the Virgin of the Snows began. These paintings were taken during a French invasion. They are now in the Prado Museum in Madrid. Other Murillo paintings from this church are now in the Louvre museum in Paris and other collections.
The church also has other important paintings. There is an altarpiece (a decorated screen behind the altar) from 1564 with works by Luis de Vargas. Another painting, called Ecce Homo, was made by a follower of Luis de Morales.
= Main Altar
The main altar in the church is a beautiful example of Baroque art. It was built starting in 1657. It has many carvings of flowers and other designs. On the sides, you can see statues of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. A crucifix, believed to be made by Juan de Mesa around 1620, has recently been added to the altar.
Church Brotherhoods
A brotherhood is a group of people who come together for religious reasons. The Antigua y Fervorosa Hermandad del Rosario de María Santísima Nuestra Señora de las Nieves (which means "Ancient and Devoted Brotherhood of the Rosary of Mary Most Holy Our Lady of the Snows") has its home in this church. This group focuses on devotion to the Virgin of the Snows. Their first rules were written in 1732. The statue of the Virgin of the Snows was made in the 19th century.
Another group, the Brotherhood of the Lavatory, also used to be based here. It was founded in 1598. This brotherhood had important people as members, including Justino de Neve, who helped rebuild the church. They used to have special parades with floats.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de Santa María la Blanca (Sevilla) para niños
