Collegiate Basilica of Gandia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Collegiate of Santa María |
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| Colegiata de Santa María de Gandia | |
Collegiate Basilica of Gandia
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| 38°58′1.07″N 0°10′48.84″W / 38.9669639°N 0.1802333°W | |
| Location | Gandia (Valencia) |
| Country |  Spain |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | http://www.colegiatagandia.org |
| History | |
| Founded | October 26, 1499 |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Valencian Gothic |
| Years built | October 26, 1499 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Valencia |
The Collegiate Basilica of Santa Maria of Gandia, also known as "La Seu", is the main church in the city of Gandia, Valencia. Building this amazing church started a very long time ago, in the 1300s!
Contents
Discovering La Seu: Gandia's Historic Church
The Collegiate Church of Santa María is a beautiful building built in the Valencian Gothic style. You can find it right in the middle of Gandia. Its construction began in the 14th century and took about 200 years to finish.
Why is it Called a Collegiate Church?
This church became super important thanks to Pope Alexander VI. He officially made it a "Collegiate" church. This means it's a special church with a group of priests called canons who perform daily services. In 1931, it was even declared a National Historic Monument, which means it's a protected and important part of history.
Inside the Church: Simple Beauty
The church has one main hall, called a nave, with smaller chapels along its sides. The building itself looks quite simple from the inside. Long ago, it had many beautiful decorations. There were fancy altarpieces, paintings, and sculptures. Sadly, these amazing artworks disappeared during a difficult time of conflict.
Famous Doors of La Seu
The Collegiate Church of Santa María is like a small architectural treasure. Two of its doors are especially famous and worth seeing:
- The Puerta Sur or Puerta de Santa María (South Door or Saint Mary's Door).
- The Puerta de los Apóstoles (Apostles' Door). This door was one of the first big works by a famous artist named Damián Forment. He was a very important artist who helped start the Spanish Renaissance style in Spain.
See also
