Iglesia arciprestal de Santa María (Alcoy) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Iglesia arciprestal de Santa María |
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| Iglesia arciprestal de Santa María | |
The Church of Santa María
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| Location | Alcoy (Valencia) |
| Country |  Spain |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
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| Diocese | Valencia |
The Iglesia arciprestal de Santa María is an important old church in Alcoy, a city in the province of Alicante. It was first built in the 1700s next to a much older monastery from the 1200s called St. Augustine. Sadly, in 1936, the church was torn down, and most of its beautiful paintings and artwork were lost.
But the story didn't end there! Rebuilding began in 1940. By May 19, 1955, a new church stood in its place. It was built to look much like the old one and even used some of its original parts.
A Look Back: The Church's History
In the early 1700s, the people of Alcoy decided to build a large, grand church. They chose a spot in the highest part of the city, right next to the old Sant Agustí monastery, which had been there since the 1300s.
This church became very important in the late 1800s. At that time, Alcoy was a busy city with many successful businesses, especially in wool, paper, and steel. The wealthy business owners helped pay for a lot of art and decorations for the church, making it even more beautiful.
However, during the Spanish Civil War, the church was damaged and taken over by the city. For reasons that are not clear, it was decided to tear it down. After the war ended, people wanted to bring the church back. So, they decided to build a brand new church that looked just like the old one.
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