Ciudad Real Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ciudad Real Cathedral |
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| Holy Priory Church Cathedral-Basilica of the Military Orders of Our Lady Saint Mary of the Prado | |
| Santa Iglesia Prioral Basílica Catedral de las Órdenes Militares de Nuestra Señora Santa María del Prado | |
West façade in 2022.
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| 38°59′11″N 3°55′51″W / 38.986324°N 3.93096°W | |
| Location | Ciudad Real |
| Country | Spain |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Dedication | Mary, Mother of Jesus |
| Dedicated | 5 March 1981 |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Gothic |
| Completed | 1514 |
| Specifications | |
| Nave length | 53 m (173 ft 11 in) |
| Nave width | 18 m (59 ft 1 in) |
| Nave height | 34 m (111 ft 7 in) |
| Number of towers | 1 |
| Tower height | 62 m (203 ft 5 in) |
| Administration | |
| Metropolis | Toledo |
| Diocese | Ciudad Real |
The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Prado, often called the Ciudad Real Cathedral, is a famous church in Ciudad Real, Spain. It is also known by its very long official name: the Holy Priory Church Cathedral-Basilica of the Military Orders of Our Lady Saint Mary of the Prado.
Building started in the 1400s in a style called Gothic. But it also has parts from other styles like Romanesque, Renaissance, and Baroque. It has been fixed up many times over the years. King Alfonso X helped with some of the earliest changes. The main building was finished in the mid-1500s, and its tall tower was added in the early 1800s.
Since 1875, this cathedral has been important for four old military orders in Spain. These orders are the Calatrava, Montesa, Santiago, and Alcántara. The cathedral is also a protected monument in Spain, listed as a Bien de Interés Cultural.
Contents
History and Design of the Cathedral
The oldest part of the cathedral is the Door of Forgiveness (Puerta del Perdón). This door is from the late 1200s or early 1300s. It might have been moved from an earlier small chapel that stood here.
The cathedral was built step by step, mixing Gothic and Renaissance styles.
- The back part (called the apse) is from the early 1400s.
- The eastern part of the main hall (the nave) was finished in 1514.
- The rest of the main hall was completed around 1580.
The cathedral has a huge main hall. It is about 34 meters (112 feet) high, 53 meters (174 feet) long, and 18 meters (59 feet) wide. It is the second largest main hall in Spain, after the one in Girona Cathedral.
The Chapel of the Virgin and the sacristy (a room where priests prepare) were built in the 1600s in the Baroque style. The tall tower was rebuilt in 1825 and has been fixed up recently. During the Spanish Civil War, the cathedral was used as a military garage. Because of this, many of its valuable items were lost or damaged.
The Door of Forgiveness shows a mix of Gothic and Romanesque styles. Some people think it was built during the time of King Alfonso X. The tower, built in the 1800s, is made of stone and has four levels.
Inside the Cathedral
Inside, you'll find a beautiful Baroque altarpiece (a large decorated screen behind the altar). It was created by Giraldo de Merlo and his son-in-law, Juan de Hasten. Other artists continued the work, and it was finished in 1616. This altarpiece is dedicated to the Virgen of the Prado, who is the patron saint of Ciudad Real. The wooden benches, carved from walnut, are from the early 1700s.
The Sacristy room has many paintings. It also has a large chest of drawers made in the Baroque style. The church became a cathedral in 1981, thanks to a special order from the Pope.
Keeping the Cathedral Beautiful: Restorations
Over the years, the Ciudad Real Cathedral has had many important restoration projects to keep it in good condition.
- 1967: The bells were restored for the first time. They were melted down and reshaped, and given new metal supports.
- 1983 - 1986: The tall tower of the cathedral was restored.
- 1987 - 1988: The bells were restored again. They were reshaped and new machinery was added to make them work better.
- 1992: A third, smaller restoration was done on the bells, involving minor repairs.
- 1998 - 2002: The outside walls (facades) and the ceiling of the old sacristy were restored.
- 2001: The organ, a large musical instrument, was repaired.
- 2003 - 2004: The main altarpiece was carefully restored.
- 2009 - 2010: The Chapel of the Virgen del Prado was restored.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Santa María del Prado (Ciudad Real) para niños
