Convento de San Esteban, Salamanca facts for kids
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The Convento de San Esteban is a beautiful old building in Salamanca, Spain. It's a monastery belonging to the Dominican friars. The building is famous for its special style called Plateresque, which means it has lots of detailed decorations, like silverwork. You can find it in the Square of the Council of Trent.
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History of the Convent
The Dominicans, a group of Catholic friars, first came to Salamanca around 1255. They built their first convent where the current one stands today. This first building was later taken down to make way for the new, bigger convent.
Building the new convent started in 1524. A church leader named Friar Juan Álvarez de Toledo helped get the project going. The construction took a long time, finally finishing in 1610. Many skilled architects worked on it, including Juan de Álava, who created the first plans, and Rodrigo Gil de Hontañón.
Even though it's known for its Plateresque style, the long building period means you can see a mix of styles. These range from the older Gothic style to the more decorative Baroque style. The main altarpiece, a large decorated screen behind the altar, is a great example of Baroque art.
It's said that Christopher Columbus stayed at the earlier convent. He was in Salamanca to talk to experts from the University. He wanted to convince them that he could reach Asia by sailing west across the ocean.
During a time called the Counter-Reformation, this convent was a very important place. Dominican friars, like Francisco de Vitoria, who started the famous School of Salamanca, studied here. The convent also helped important religious figures like Saint Teresa of Ávila and Saint Ignatius of Loyola.
Art and Architecture
The Facade
The facade is the front part of the church and the entrance to the convent. It forms a right angle, meaning it has two main parts.
The front of the church is a stunning example of the Plateresque style. It looks like a giant, decorated doorway, almost like an altarpiece itself. It has a rounded arch with lots of detailed carvings. These carvings show scenes like the suffering of Saint Stephen and a Calvary (Jesus on the cross). These artworks were made by Juan Antonio Ceroni in the early 1600s.
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The convent's entrance, called the portico, has rounded arches. It's inspired by Italian Renaissance designs. Its simpler look is a strong contrast to the very detailed church facade. Juan Ribero de Rada built this part between 1590 and 1592. The round decorations in the arches, called spandrels, were made by the sculptor Martín Rodríguez.
The Church Interior
The church's construction began in 1524 with Juan de Álava. Other architects like Friar Martín de Santiago and Rodrigo Gil de Hontañón continued the work. The church was officially opened in 1610.
The church has a Latin cross plan, meaning it's shaped like a cross. It has one main aisle, called a nave, with smaller chapels along the sides. The choir, where the friars sing, is at the back of the church, raised on an arch. The styles inside mix late Gothic and Renaissance. The nave is 14.50 meters wide and 27 meters high, while the dome is 44 meters high. Inside the choir, you can see a painting called Triumph of the Church by Antonio Palomino and a Virgin and Child by Peter Paul Rubens.
Main Altarpiece
This huge altarpiece is at the very front of the church. It was created by José Benito de Churriguera. It has six large, twisted columns covered in plant designs. In the middle, there's a small temple-like structure called a tabernacle. On either side of it are statues of Saint Dominic and Saint Francis of Assisi.
The upper part of the altarpiece features a painting by Claudio Coello. This painting shows the martyrdom of Saint Stephen. The entire altarpiece is covered in gold and rich decorations, making it a stunning example of Spanish baroque art.
The Sacristy
The sacristy is a room where priests prepare for services and keep sacred items. This one was built in the 1600s by architects Alonso Sardiña and Juan Moreno. It has a classic style, with walls decorated with Corinthian order pilasters (flat columns). The top part, called the frieze, has carvings of brackets and other symbolic designs.
The person who paid for the sacristy, Fray Pedro de Herrera Suárez, wanted it to be his burial place too. You can see his statue praying in a special spot on the left wall. Other statues of the Virgin Mary, Saint Peter, and Saint Paul are at the far end, with an older statue of Christ called Jesús de la Promesa.
Cloister and Chapters
The main cloister, called "de procesiones" or "de los Reyes" (of the Kings), was designed by Friar Martín de Santiago. A cloister is an open courtyard surrounded by covered walkways. On the first floor, it mixes Gothic and Renaissance styles. The arches facing the garden are rounded, but they have three thin columns, giving them a Gothic feel. The ceilings of the walkways are ribbed, a typical Gothic feature. In the center of the garden, there's a small shrine.
On the upper floor, the roof is a simple wooden ceiling. The walkways here have forty rounded arches resting on pillars. The tops of these pillars are decorated with interesting and sometimes funny designs.
From the first floor, you can enter the "Chapters." The "Old Chapter" is a dark, simple room from the 1300s. It has a chapel where important members of the convent, like Francisco de Vitoria, were buried. Other friars were buried in the lower part, and they sat on benches during their meetings. The "new Chapter," built in the 1600s, is much larger and brighter. It looks similar to the Sacristy.
Staircase of Soto
This staircase was built between 1553 and 1556. It's named after Friar Domingo de Soto, a professor at the University of Salamanca and a close advisor to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. The architect, Rodrigo Gil de Hontañón, used a very new technique for its time. The staircase seems to float, supported only by the walls, with no other pillars underneath. This creates an open space that looks almost magical. Its decorations include carved flowers and a colorful carving of Mary Magdalene at the top.
Burial Place of the Grand Duke of Alba
The Grand Duke of Alba was a very important Spanish noble and general. He died in 1582. His remains were first buried in another convent. In 1619, they were moved to the Convento de San Esteban. Since 1983, his remains rest in a special chapel within the convent. This chapel has a mausoleum (a grand tomb) designed by Fernando Chueca Goitia.
Areas for the Friars
Some parts of the convent are not open to visitors because they are used by the friars who live there. These areas include two more cloisters. One is called the "Columbus cloister." It's believed that Christopher Columbus had discussions with the friars here. This cloister is from the late 1400s and has a simple design with rounded arches. The other cloister, called "Los Aljibes cloister," has simpler arches and fewer decorations, which is a contrast to the very ornate parts of the monument.
Institutions at the Convent
Faculty of Theology
The monastery is home to the Pontifical Theological Faculty of St. Stephen. This school, founded in 1947, teaches theology, which is the study of religious faith. It continues a long tradition of theological study that began at San Esteban in 1222. The Faculty also hosts discussions and has its own publishing house, Editorial San Esteban.
Religious Groups
San Esteban is also the home base for two religious groups. One is the Dominican Fraternity of Holy Christ of the Good Death. This group takes part in Salamanca's Holy Week celebrations with a special procession on Good Friday. The other group is the Royal and Pontifical Sacrament Confraternity of Mary, Mother of God of the Rosary and St. Pius V, which has recently become active again after many years.
Gallery
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Convento de San Esteban in 1890. Library of Congress.
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Convento de San Esteban in 1895 by Jenny Bergensten. Hallwyl Museum.
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Facade of the convent in 1892 by La Ilustración Española y Americana.
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Cloister of Los Reyes between 1880-1926, photo by Joaquim Morelló. Memòria Digital de Catalunya.
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Cloister of the Convento in 1888 by Constantin Uhde.
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Main altarpiece of the Convento de San Esteban in 1880-1926. Memòria Digital de Catalunya.
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Presentation of St. Stephen in the temple, in one of the corners of the cloister.
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Annunciation of the Virgin, in one of the corners of the cloister.
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Portal of San Gregorio Magno
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Roof of the chapterhouse
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Capilla Funeraria de los Paz
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Capilla del Rosario
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Detail in the Puerta de San José.
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Decoration in the facade.
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See also
In Spanish: Convento de San Esteban (Salamanca) para niños
