Church of Santo Tomé, Toledo facts for kids
The Iglesia de Santo Tomé (which means Church of Saint Thomas) is a famous church in the old city of Toledo, Spain. It was built after King Alfonso VI took back the city.
The church was first mentioned in the 1100s. It was built on the spot of an old mosque from the 1000s. When Toledo was taken, many mosques were used as churches without big changes. This is because the city's buildings were not destroyed.
Later, in the early 1300s, the church was falling apart. So, Gonzalo Ruiz de Toledo, who was the Lord of Orgaz, had it completely rebuilt. The old mosque's minaret (a tall tower) was turned into a bell tower. This tower is a great example of the Mudéjar style, which mixes Christian and Islamic art.
The church is most famous for holding a very special painting. It is called The Burial of the Count of Orgaz by the famous artist El Greco. You can see this painting when you visit the church.
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What's Inside the Church?
The church has three main parts called naves. It also has a crossing area. The ceilings are curved, like a barrel vault. There is also a rounded end part called an apse.
To build the main chapel, the Lord of Orgaz had the old front part taken down. He wanted a mix of Mudéjar and Gothic styles. He also added a central dome shaped like a star. Its lines are painted to look like a Rub el Hizb (an Islamic star symbol). Near the main altar, a door leads to the bell tower. You can climb up it using a staircase.
The church has two fancy altarpieces from the Baroque period. There is also one from the plateresque style. You can also see a baptismal font from the 1500s. A beautiful statue of the Virgin Mary from the 1100s is also there. The main chapel has a large altarpiece from the 1800s. It replaced an older one. In the middle of this altarpiece is a painting. It is called "The unbelief of St. Thomas" by the painter Vicente López Portaña.
The Chapel of the Conception
At the front of the church, on the right side, is the Chapel of the Conception. Gonzalo Ruiz de Toledo, the Lord of Orgaz, asked to be buried here in his will. He was a great helper of this church and died in 1323.
There is a famous story about his burial. It says that Saint Stephen and Augustine of Hippo appeared from heaven. They helped place him in his tomb. This amazing event is shown in the painting "Burial of the Count of Orgaz" by El Greco.
El Greco painted this masterpiece in 1584. He was asked to do it by Andrés Núñez de Toledo. He was the church's priest at that time. For the painting, the chapel was changed. A new square area was made with a half-dome ceiling. Four rounded arches were added to the walls. Inside one arch, a stone tablet was placed. It tells the story of the miracle. The painting was then placed above it, fitting perfectly into the arch.
The Tower Outside
The church's tower used to be an old minaret. It was rebuilt in the 1300s by the Lord of Orgaz. It has a square shape and is a great example of Toledo's Mudéjar style. It is made of stone and brick, which are very well kept. It looks similar to the tower of the Church of San Román in the same city.
The tower has shiny ceramic pieces set into it. Its top two sections have double bells. There are groups of two and three windows. Between these two floors, there is a decorative band. It has "blind arches" (arches that are filled in) with fancy shapes. These arches are separated by small columns made of glazed clay. The very top of the tower looks like a "sawtooth" pattern.
Next to a double window on the second floor of the tower, there is a special white marble plate. It is from the Visigothic time. It has a shell shape and a cross with wide ends. It is decorated with the letters Alpha and Omega. Experts say it is like pieces made in Mérida. This style then spread to Toledo.
Visiting the Church
The church is open every day. People can visit to see the famous painting by El Greco. There is a small fee to enter.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de Santo Tomé (Toledo) para niños
