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Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso facts for kids

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Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso
Native name
Spanish: Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso
Alcalá de Henares - Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso 01.jpg
Location Alcalá de Henares, Spain
Official name: Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso
Type Non-movable
Criteria Monument
Designated 1914
Reference no. RI-51-0000132
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The Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso is a very old and important building in Alcalá de Henares, Spain. It's like a special university college that was built a long time ago. In 1914, it was declared a Bien de Interés Cultural, which means "Asset of Cultural Interest." This title is given to places that are very important to a country's history and culture.

History of the Building

The idea for the Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso came from a very important person named Cardinal Cisneros. He was a powerful leader in Spain. He wanted to create a place for learning and education.

Starting the Construction

Cardinal Cisneros hired an architect named Pedro de Gumiel to design the building. The first stone was laid in 1499, which was over 500 years ago!

A part of the building called the Saint Ildefonsus' Chapel was finished in 1510. This was a special place for prayer and ceremonies.

Key Parts and Architects

In 1516, work began on the Paraninfo. This is a large, grand hall often used for important meetings and graduation ceremonies.

Later, in 1537, another famous architect, Rodrigo Gil de Hontañón, designed the main front of the building. This part is very beautiful and shows off the building's unique style.

Finishing Touches

Most of the building was ready by 1617. At that time, Juan Gómez de Mora redesigned one of the courtyards. This courtyard is now known as Thomas of Villanova's courtyard.

However, the entire building wasn't fully finished until the second half of the 17th century. It took many years and different architects to complete this amazing place.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso para niños

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