Iglesia de Santo Tomás (Coro) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Iglesia de Santo Tomás (Coro)
43°27′35″N 5°24′00″W / 43.45973°N 5.40008°W / 43.45973; -5.40008
Location	Asturias,  Spain

The Iglesia de Santo Tomás is an old church located in Coro, a small area within the town of Villaviciosa in Asturias, Spain. It was built in the Romanesque style during the second half of the 13th century, which means it's over 750 years old!

This church has a simple design. It features one main rectangular room, called a nave, where people sit. At the front, there's a square area known as the chancel, which is where the altar is located. You can also find a smaller room, called a sacristy, attached to the south side of the chancel. On the outside, there's a porch area. The west side of the porch is closed, while the south side is open with seven wooden columns.

What Makes This Church Special?

Inside the Church

When you step inside the Iglesia de Santo Tomás, you'll notice a pointed arch that connects the main nave to the chancel. This is called a triumphal arch. It has two simple decorative bands, known as archivolts.

The arch is supported by three columns on each side. The tops of these columns, called capitals, are shaped like pyramids with their tops cut off. They are decorated with carvings of people (anthropomorphic) and animals (zoomorphic).

The ceiling of the nave is a flat wooden structure. The chancel, however, has a pointed barrel vault ceiling. This type of ceiling is curved like a tunnel. You can see three carved figures of people (anthropomorphic corbels) and another capital supporting this vault.

Outside the Church

The outside of the church has some interesting features. The wall at the very front of the church, called the head wall, has a semicircular arch with a column on each side. The capitals on these columns are decorated with leaves.

There are also two important doorways.

• The western doorway has two pointed arches. Inside, there's a carving of a person praying in the soffit (the underside of the arch). This doorway is decorated with small balls and three figures of people. These figures rest on a molded ledge and are supported by buttresses (strong supports built into the wall).
• The southern doorway has a pointed arch. It stands on a raised base called a plinth and has a molded ledge on its buttresses. The buttress on the right side has a beautiful carving of a four-petalled flower.

Images for kids

• 

  The beautiful Iglesia de Santo Tomás in Coro.

See also

In Spanish: Iglesia de Santo Tomás (Coro) para niños