Iglesia de los Santos Justo y Pastor, Toledo facts for kids
The Church of Saints Justus and Pastor, often called Church of San Justo, is a beautiful old church. You can find it in the city of Toledo, which is in Castile-La Mancha, Spain. This church was built a long time ago, in the 13th century. It was founded after King Alfonso VI of León and Castile took over the city. The church is dedicated to two holy children named Justus and Pastor. Over the years, from the 14th to the 18th centuries, the church changed quite a bit.
Contents
A Look at the Church's History
How the Church Changed Over Time
The Church of San Justo has a long and interesting history. It has been rebuilt and updated many times. Each century brought new changes to its design and look.
The 14th Century: Early Rebuilding
During the 14th century, the church went through a lot of rebuilding. One important part that was kept was the Chapel of Corpus Christi. This chapel had a wooden roof and beautiful azulejo tiles. Also, parts of the Mudéjar apse were rebuilt. The apse is the rounded part at the end of the church. It was made of brick and had decorative blind arches. These parts show the unique Mudéjar style, which mixes Christian and Islamic art.
The 15th and 16th Centuries: Adding Chapels
In the 15th and 16th centuries, more changes happened. Three new chapels were added to the church. These chapels had special ribbed vaults, which are arched ceilings with decorative ribs. One of these chapels was for the Virgen de la Esperanza (Virgin of Hope). It featured a remarkable Plateresque fence. Plateresque is a fancy Spanish architectural style.
The 17th Century: New Pillars and Design
The church was changed again in the 17th century. The main central area of the church lost its original Mudéjar style. In 1612, the old brick pillars were replaced. New pillars made of granite were put in their place. These new pillars came from quarries in Las Ventas con Peña Aguilera. This update gave the central part of the church a different, more modern look for that time.
The 18th Century: Finishing Touches and the Unique Entrance
The final big changes to the church happened in the 18th century. The inside walls were covered with plaster and painted. The ceilings of the side areas were finished. The outside of the church was also completed. A very special part of the church is its entrance. It's built into the bottom of the church tower. This tower-portal design is quite unusual for churches in Toledo. The entrance looks like a small altarpiece. It has pillars and a niche for statues of the church's saints. The outside walls, except for the old Mudéjar apse, are covered in reddish plaster. In some places, you can see older plaster underneath that looks like brick.
Images for kids
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The facade of the Church of Saints Justus and Pastor in Toledo.
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See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de los Santos Justo y Pastor (Toledo) para niños
