Iglesia de las Santas Justa y Rufina, Toledo facts for kids

Facade of the church, located in a narrow street of Toledo.

An Arabic inscription on the facade of the church.

The Iglesia de las Santas Justa y Rufina is a very old church in Toledo, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. It is known for its long history and interesting mix of building styles. This church is one of several special churches in Toledo that have been around since at least 1156.

A Church with a Hidden Past

This church has a secret! Clues found in its old walls suggest that it might have started as an Islamic building, probably a mosque. For a long time, the only hint was a piece of an arch. This arch was built into the church's outer wall.

Clues from the Past

This special arch was made from an even older stone column from the Visigothic period. Experts believe the way the arch was cut shows it was built by Islamic builders around the 10th century. Finding old pieces used again in new buildings was common back then.

From Mosque to Church

When the building became a Christian church, new parts were added. One important part was the "apse," which is the rounded end of the church where the altar is. The way this apse was built is similar to another famous building in Toledo, the Mosque of Cristo de la Luz. This means the apse was likely built around the 12th or early 13th century.

The Mudéjar Style

This building style is called Mudéjar. It's a unique Spanish art and building style that mixes Christian and Islamic ideas. It often uses brick and decorative patterns. The Church of Saints Justa and Rufina is a great example of this early Mudéjar style in Toledo.

Later Changes to the Church

Over the years, the church changed quite a bit. The biggest changes happened starting in 1530. These updates were led by a famous architect named Alonso de Covarrubias. He helped shape the church into some of what we see today.

See also

In Spanish: Iglesia de las Santas Justa y Rufina (Toledo) para niños