Granada Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Metropolitan Cathedral of the IncarnationSanta Iglesia Catedral Metropolitana de la Encarnación |
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Facade of the Cathedral
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| District | Archdiocese of Granada |
| Rite | Roman |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Cathedral |
| Location | |
| Location | Granada, Spain |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Renaissance, Baroque |
| Groundbreaking | 1526 |
| Completed | 1561 |
Granada Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of the Incarnation, is a large and beautiful Roman Catholic church. You can find it in the city of Granada, which is in the Andalusia region of Spain. This cathedral is very important because it's the main church for the Archdiocese of Granada.
Like many other cathedrals in Andalusia, it was built after the reconquest of Granada. It stands on the site where the city's main mosque used to be.
Contents
History of Granada Cathedral
The Granada Cathedral is dedicated to Santa María de la Encarnación. Its construction began later than most cathedrals in Spain. Work started in the 16th century, specifically in 1518.
It was built in the center of the old Muslim city, called the Medina. This happened after the Nasrid kingdom of Granada was taken over in 1492.
Early Designs and Architects
The first plans for the cathedral had a Gothic style. You can see this style in the nearby Royal Chapel of Granada, designed by Enrique Egas. However, most of the cathedral was built when the Spanish Renaissance style became popular.
Enrique Egas laid the first foundations for the church. He worked on it from 1518 to 1523.
Diego de Siloé's Influence
In 1529, Diego de Siloé took over as the main architect. He worked on the cathedral for almost 40 years. Siloé planned for five naves (the long parts of the church) instead of the usual three.
He cleverly combined a Renaissance dome with a Gothic floor plan. This mixed circular shapes with the traditional long church layout. He also designed a circular main chapel, which was very unusual at the time. This might have been inspired by Italian ideas for 'perfect buildings'.
Later Construction and Baroque Elements
After Siloé, other architects continued the work. These included Juan de Maena (1563–1571), Juan de Orea (1571–1590), and Ambrosio de Vico (1590–?). In 1667, Alonso Cano changed the design for the main front of the cathedral. He added Baroque elements, which are known for being very grand and decorative.
The cathedral took 181 years to build! It was meant to be even bigger. The original plans included two tall towers, each 81 meters high. However, these towers were never finished, partly because of money problems.
Features of Granada Cathedral
The front of the cathedral looks like a triumphal arch. It has three main sections with rounded arches. These arches are supported by flat columns called pilasters. The pilasters don't have fancy tops (called capitals) but have sculptures on the walls.
Above the main door, there is a round marble sculpture. It shows "José Laughing on the Annunciation." At the very top, there is a vase with lilies. This symbolizes the pure nature of the mother of God.
Inside the Cathedral
Granada's cathedral has a rectangular shape. This is because it has five naves that spread out across the church. The central nave is the tallest, and the others get shorter. At the front of the cathedral, there are two towers. The left one, called the tower of San Miguel, helps support the building.
The dome inside the cathedral is decorated with gold stars on a blue background. The center of this dome has shapes that look like flower petals.
Main Chapel and Art
The main chapel has many Corinthian columns. These columns support the roof, which has beautiful stained glass windows. Inside the main chapel, you can see two statues of the Catholic King and Queen, Isabel and Ferdinand. These statues show them kneeling and were made by Pedro de Mena y Medrano.
You can also see busts (head and shoulders sculptures) of Adam and Eve. These were created by Alonso Cano. The Chapel of the Trinity has an amazing altarpiece (a decorated screen behind the altar). It features paintings by famous artists like El Greco, Jusepe de Ribera, and Alonso Cano.
The sacrarium is a special part of the church built between 1706 and 1759. It follows the same classic style as the rest of the cathedral.
See also
