Iglesia de Santa María (Soto de Luiña) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Iglesia de Santa María (Soto de Luiña) |
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| Religion | |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Church |
| Location | |
| Location | Cudillero (Asturias), Spain |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | ii, iv, vi |
| Designated | 1993 (17th session) |
| Parent listing | Routes of Santiago de Compostela: Camino Francés and Routes of Northern Spain |
| Reference no. | 669bis-014 |
| Region | Europe and North America |
| Type | Non-movable |
| Criteria | Monument |
| 28 November 1996 | |
| RI-51-0009584 | |
The Church of Santa María (Soto de Luiña) is an old and beautiful church in Asturias, Spain. It was built in the 1700s. You can find it in the town of Cudillero. This church, along with the nearby Rectory House, used to be a hospital for pilgrims. These pilgrims were travelers on the famous Camino de Santiago, a very old walking route.
This church was built on the site of an even older chapel or small shrine. That older building was near a spring, which people thought made the spot special.
Contents
Church Design and Features
The Church of Santa María has a special shape called a Latin cross. This means it looks like a cross from above, with a long main part and two shorter arms. It has three main sections, called naves, and three smaller chapels.
At the back of the church, there's a rounded part called an apse. At the front, there's a tall, square tower made of grey stone. The tower has three levels with arched openings and special spaces for statues.
Tower Details
The sides of the church have porches supported by columns. The tower ends with an eight-sided top made of smooth, cut stones called ashlars. On the corners of the tower, you can see gargoyles. These are carved stone figures, often shaped like animals, that help drain water away from the building.
Building History
The tower was the first part of the church to be built. A master builder named Domingo Fernández designed it. Around the same time, the main chapel and the Rosary chapel were constructed. Pedro García finished this early work.
Later, after some disagreements with the town, the Saint Inés chapel was added. Don Lope Matías Menéndez de Luarca y Tiena oversaw its construction. By the middle of the 1700s, the main part of the church, including its arches, doors, and windows, was finally completed.
Inside the Church
Inside, the church has a beautiful main altarpiece. An altarpiece is a large, decorated screen or panel behind the altar. This one is in the Baroque style, which means it's very fancy and detailed. It was probably made by José Bernardo de Mena. It honors Our Lady of Humility, and the statues on it were created by Antonio Baroja.
On the right side, there's another altarpiece called the Rosary. It shows the "Tree of the Life of Jesus." On the left, the Saint Agnes altarpiece shows the "Tree of the Birth of Jesus."
Above the main door, there's an old message carved into the stone. It says: YEAR 1782 ASYLUM CHURCH
Important Recognition and Treasures
In 1984, the church was fixed up and restored. After this work, it was officially named an artistic-historic monument. This means it's a very important building for art and history.
The church also has some amazing old items. One special item is a silver cross used in parades, made in 1609. Experts believe it was made by a famous silversmith named Juan de Nápoles Mudarra. It's considered one of the best examples of its kind in Spain. There's also a silver monstrance from the 1600s. A monstrance is a special container used to display the host in Catholic churches. The church also keeps many important old documents from the 1600s.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de Santa María (Soto de Luiña) para niños
