Iglesia de San Pablo, Valladolid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Paul's Convent church |
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Iglesia conventual de San Pablo
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Façade of the church
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Catholic |
| District | Valladolid |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location |  Valladolid, Province of Valladolid, Castile and León, Spain |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural style | Isabelline Gothic (Gothic), Plateresque (Renaissance) |
| Completed | 1445-1616 |
| Direction of façade | Southwest |
| Official name: Iglesia conventual de San Pablo | |
| Type | Monument |
| Designated | 03-06-1931 |
| Reference no. | RI-51-0000983 |
The Church of San Pablo (also known as San Pablo de Valladolid) is a famous church in the city of Valladolid, Spain. It used to be part of a convent. This church is known for its beautiful Isabelline Gothic style.
Work on the church began in 1445 and continued until 1616. It was first ordered by Cardinal Juan de Torquemada. Two Spanish kings, Philip II and Philip IV of Spain, were baptized here. Even Napoleon visited this important building. Today, it is one of the most well-known landmarks in Valladolid.
History of the Church
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The building of the Church of San Pablo started to replace an older church. This older church had a wooden roof. It was next to a convent founded by the Dominican monks in 1270. Cardinal Torquemada ordered the new church to be built.
After Cardinal Torquemada passed away, Bishop Alonso de Burgos helped fund more parts of the church. He paid for the cloister (a covered walkway), the refectory (dining hall), and the lower part of the façade (the front of the building). He also helped build the nearby Colegio de San Gregorio, which included a special chapel for burials.
Many talented artists worked on the church during this time. These included Juan Guas and Simón de Colonia. Around 1550, Cardinal Juan Garcia Loaysa added the sacristy. This is a room where priests prepare for services. Its ceiling has a dome decorated with stars and symbols of the Dominican order.
The main part of the church, called the nave, has rib vaults. These are arched ceilings supported by special brackets called corbels. These were added around 1540.
Later, the capital city of Spain moved from Valladolid to Madrid. The church then received support from the Duke of Lerma. He paid for the church's façade to be updated. He also added many beautiful artworks inside. From 1613 to 1616, Juan de Nates built a special tribune (a raised platform) for the Duke. He also created the Doric style gate for the sacristy.
What the Church Looks Like
The Church of San Pablo is built in a late Gothic style. It has one main area, called a nave. On the sides, there are small chapels between the buttresses (supports on the outside walls). The church also has a raised choir area and a transept (the part that crosses the main body of the church).
At the ends of the transept, there are two stone doorways. These were made around 1490 by Simón de Colonia's workshop. The doorway on the left leads to the Chapel of the Crucifix. The one on the right used to lead to Bishop Alonso de Burgos's burial chapel.
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The main front of the church, the façade, was finished in 1500. It was designed by Simón de Colonia. The lower part of the façade has gargoyles (stone carvings of creatures) and is flanked by two spires (tall, pointed structures). The main entrance is surrounded by a large arch. Inside this arch, there is a carving showing the Coronation of the Virgin. Bishop Alonso de Burgos is also shown in this carving.
The upper part of the façade has rectangular spaces. For its decoration, some Gothic elements were reused from other buildings. New elements were also added during the renovation paid for by the Duke of Lerma. He also had the two side towers built. The stars in the background of the façade are from the coat of arms of the Sandoval y Rojas family, to which the Duke belonged. The Duke of Lerma is buried inside the church.
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Inside the church, there are two chapels near the apse (the rounded end of the church). One chapel has a statue of St Dominic of Guzmán by Gregorio Fernández. The other has a statue of Christ by the same artist. Gregorio Fernández also created other works in the presbytery (the area around the altar).
In the transept, you can see two paintings by Bartolomé de Cárdenas. These paintings are called Calling of St Peter and Conversion of St Paul.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de San Pablo (Valladolid) para niños
