Ciutadella de Menorca Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ciutadella de Menorca CathedralCatedral de Santa Maria de Ciutadella |
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Cathedral of Menorca
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic Church |
| Location | |
| Location | Menorca, Spain |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | church |
| Architectural style | Gothic, Neoclassical |
| General contractor | (1300-1365) |
The Cathedral of Ciutadella de Menorca is an important Roman Catholic church located in Ciutadella de Menorca. This city is on the island of Menorca, part of the Balearic Islands in Spain. King Alfonso III of Aragon, who conquered the island, ordered its construction in 1287. It was built on the site where an old mosque once stood.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
Building the Gothic Church
Work on the cathedral began in the year 1300. It took many years to build, finally finishing in 1362. The church was designed in the Catalan Gothic style. This style is known for its tall, grand structures. A special feature of this cathedral is how wide its main hall, called the nave, is. On each side of the nave, there are six smaller rooms or areas known as chapels. The back part of the church, called the apse, has five sides and faces towards the east.
Repairs and Changes Over Time
In 1558, the cathedral faced a difficult time. It was damaged by the Ottoman Turks during an attack led by Admiral Pialí Bajá. Later, in 1626, parts of the apse's ceiling collapsed. Luckily, the damage was quickly fixed, keeping the original Gothic style.
In 1795, the old bishopric (a church district led by a bishop) of Menorca was brought back. Because of this, the main church in Ciutadella became the cathedral for the new diocese.
New Look for the Front
The main front of the cathedral, called the façade, was rebuilt in 1813. This work was done under Bishop Juano. The new design was in a Neoclassical style. This was 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. Inside, there is a beautiful Baroque chapel called the Angelus chapel. It was built in the early 1600s and has finely carved columns.
Modern Restoration
The cathedral was damaged again in 1936, during the start of the Spanish Civil War. But it was restored to its current beautiful state by Bishop Bartolomé Pascual. This restoration work took place between 1939 and 1941. During this time, the quire (the area where the choir sits) was moved. It used to be in the nave but was moved to its current spot in the apse.
Inside the Cathedral
The main altar of the cathedral is made from a single piece of marble. Above it, there is a tall canopy that reaches 15 meters high. At the very back of the apse, you'll find the bishop's special chair, called the throne. It is made from Roman marble. This marble was blessed by Pope Pius XII to show the strong connection between the church in Menorca and St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. In 1953, Pope Pius XII gave the cathedral the special title of minor basilica.
Starting in 1987, a new plan was put in place to restore and improve the cathedral even more. This was done to celebrate 700 years since the Crown of Aragon conquered Menorca.
Images for kids
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Cathedral of Menorca
