Iglesia de Santa María (Oviedo) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Iglesia de Santa María (Oviedo) |
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| Location | Oviedo, Asturias,  Spain |
The Church of Santa María in Oviedo, Spain, was an old church that is no longer standing. It was once part of a group of important buildings. These included the Cathedral of San Salvador, the first Church of San Tirso, and the Holy Chamber of Santa Leocadia.
Contents
History of the Church
Building the Church
King Alfonso II the Chaste ordered this church to be built. This happened in the 9th century. It was part of a larger project to construct several important buildings. The Church of Santa María was located on the north side of the Church of San Salvador.
Church Design
The building was a basílica, which is a type of church with a long hall. It had three main sections called naves. These sections were divided into six parts by round arches. The front part of the church, called the cabecera, had a triple rectangular shape. It also featured a blind arcade, which means a row of arches that are just for decoration and don't open up.
Altars and Art
The Church of Santa María had three altars. The main altar was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The two smaller altars were dedicated to Saint Stephen and Saint Julian.
Some special sculptures have been saved from the church. These are three carved heads from a calvary scene. A calvary scene shows Jesus on the cross. These sculptures date back to the 12th century. They were originally placed in the front part of the church, the cabecera.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de Santa María (Oviedo) para niños
- Asturian art
- Catholic Church in Spain
- List of oldest church buildings
External Links
- Mirabilia Ovetensia: This website has descriptions, computer-generated pictures, and a virtual tour of the monument.
