Colegio de Calatrava, Salamanca facts for kids
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
|---|---|
| Location | Europe Salamanca |
| Criteria | I, II, IV |
| Inscription | 1988 (12th Session) |
The Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepción de Calatrava, often called Colegio de Calatrava, is a very old and important building in Salamanca, Spain. It was once a college for a special group of knights called the Order of Calatrava. This college is unique because it's the only one founded by a military order in Salamanca that still stands today.
History of the Calatrava College
| Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepción de Calatrava | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| General information | |
| Type | School |
| Architectural style | Renaissance |
| Location |  Castile and León |
| Town or city | Salamanca |
| Country |  Spain |
| Coordinates | 40°57′36″N 5°39′40″W / 40.9601°N 5.66105°W |
| Current tenants | Casa de la Iglesia |
| Opened | 1552 |
| Owner | Roman Catholic Diocese of Salamanca |
| Design and construction | |
| Developer | Order of Calatrava |
The college was first set up in 1552 by Emperor Charles V. It was meant to be a special school. In 1554, it became part of the famous University of Salamanca.
However, the actual building you see today wasn't started until much later, in 1717. A famous architect named Joaquín de Churriguera began the work. He continued building until he passed away in 1724.
Changes in Design
The construction started again in 1750. This time, Jerónimo García de Quiñones took over as the lead architect. By then, building styles had changed. The original plans had many fancy, detailed decorations typical of Baroque style. But new ideas, called Neoclassicism, were becoming popular. This style preferred simpler, more classic designs.
Because of these new ideas, especially from Francisco Ibáñez de Corbera, who was the head of the college, many of the original Baroque decorations were removed. The building was finally finished and opened in 1790.
During a time of war, known as the War of Independence, some important paintings by the artist Francisco Goya went missing from the college's altarpieces.
Building Design
The front of the building, called the facade, has two main sections. It features tall, flat columns called pilasters that go all the way up. At the very top, there's a decorative railing called a balustrade.
Most of the decorations on the facade are inspired by the Renaissance style. This means they look back to ancient Roman and Greek designs. However, you can also see some Baroque touches. These include curvy, mixed shapes around the main entrance, on the doors of the side towers, and around all the windows.
Current Use
Today, the Colegio de Calatrava is home to the Casa de la Iglesia. This is an important institution that houses the offices for the Diocese of Salamanca. A diocese is like a local church area, and the bishop's main offices are located here.
See also
In Spanish: Colegio de Calatrava (Salamanca) para niños
