Ciutadella de Menorca Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Menorca Cathedral |
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| Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Mary | |
| Basílica Catedral de Santa Maria | |
South-west view in 2022
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| 40°0′6″N 3°50′15″E / 40.00167°N 3.83750°E | |
| Location | Ciutadella de Menorca |
| Country | Spain |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Dedication | Mary, mother of Jesus |
| Dedicated | 1795 |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Gothic |
| Years built | 14th Century |
| Specifications | |
| Nave width | 14.5 m (47 ft 7 in) |
| Height | 23 m (75 ft 6 in) |
| Administration | |
| Metropolis | Valencia |
| Diocese | Menorca |
The Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Mary is a beautiful Roman Catholic church located in Ciutadella de Menorca. This city is on the island of Menorca, which is part of the Balearic Islands in Spain. The church was built between 1300 and 1362 in a style called Catalan Gothic. Over its long history, it has been damaged and then carefully repaired more than once.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
Building a New Church
In 1287, King Alfonso III of Aragon took control of Menorca. He decided to build a new church right where an old mosque used to be. Construction began in 1300 and finished in 1362. The church was built in the Catalan Gothic style. It is known for its wide main area, called the nave, which has six chapels on each side. The back part of the church, called the apse, points towards the east.
Challenges and Repairs
The church faced a big challenge in 1558. Ottoman forces, led by Admiral Pialí Bajá, attacked and damaged the building. Later, in 1626, parts of the apse collapsed. Luckily, the damage was quickly fixed, keeping the original Gothic style.
Becoming a Cathedral
In 1795, the old bishopric (a church area led by a bishop) of Menorca was brought back. Because of this, the parish church in Ciutadella became the main church, or cathedral, for the new diocese.
Changes to the Outside
In 1813, under Bishop Juano, the main front of the cathedral was rebuilt. This new front was in a Neoclassical style, which looked quite different from the older Gothic parts of the building. However, a side door, known as the Porta de la Llum (meaning "Portal of the Light"), still has some of its original medieval decorations.
Modern Restoration
The cathedral was damaged again in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War. But it was restored to its current beautiful state by Bishop Bartolomé Pascual between 1939 and 1941. During this work, the choir area was moved from the nave to its current spot in the apse.
Inside the Cathedral
Main Altar and Throne
The main altar inside the cathedral is a single piece of marble. It is covered by a tall canopy that reaches 15 meters high. At the very back of the apse, there is an image of the Virgin Mary presenting Jesus in the Temple. Below this image is the bishop's special chair, called the episcopal throne. This throne is made from Roman marble and was blessed by Pope Pius XII. This blessing shows the strong connection between the Menorca church and St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. In 1953, Pope Pius XII gave the cathedral the special title of minor basilica.
Chapels and Renovations
One of the chapels inside, the baroque chapel of the Angelus, was built in the early 1600s. It features beautifully carved columns. Starting in 1987, a new plan began to restore and improve the cathedral even more. This was done to celebrate 700 years since the Crown of Aragon conquered Menorca.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Santa María (Ciudadela) para niños
