Iglesia de los Santos Justo y Pastor, Toledo facts for kids
The Iglesia de los Santos Justo y Pastor, also known as Iglesia de San Justo, is an old church in the city of Toledo, Spain. It was built after King Alfonso VI of León and Castile took control of the city in the 1200s. Over many centuries, from the 1300s to the 1700s, the church was changed and rebuilt several times. This religious building is named after two young saints, Justus and Pastor.
Contents
A Look at the Church's History
Early Changes in the 1300s
During the 1300s, the church went through many rebuilding projects. One important part that was kept was the chapel of Corpus Christi. This chapel is next to the main altar area. It has a rectangular shape, a wooden roof, and beautiful decorations made of azulejos (colorful glazed tiles).
The church also kept parts of its old Mudéjar style. This style mixes Christian and Islamic art. You can still see the Mudéjar apse, which is the rounded end of the church. It's made of brick and has decorative blind arches. These parts might even be older than the 1300s.
Additions in the 1400s and 1500s
In the 1400s and 1500s, three new chapels were added to the church. These chapels have special ribbed vaults (arched ceilings with decorative ribs). They open up to the right side of the main hall. One of these chapels is dedicated to the Virgen de la Esperanza (Virgin of Hope). It has a very impressive fence made in the Plateresque style, which is a detailed Spanish Renaissance art style.
Changes in the 1600s
The church was changed again in the 1600s. The central part of the church lost its original Mudéjar look. In 1612, the old brick pillars that separated the central area were replaced. New pillars made of granite from Las Ventas con Peña Aguilera were put in. Each new pillar had two half-columns attached to it.
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Finishing Touches in the 1700s
The final big changes to the church happened in the 1700s. Workers added plaster and painted decorations inside. They also finished the ceilings of the side areas. The outside of the church was completed too.
The church has a very unique entrance that looks like a tower and a doorway combined. This is unusual for churches in Toledo. The main entrance is at the bottom of the church tower, which stands out from the rest of the building. This entrance looks like an altarpiece (a decorated screen behind an altar). It has columns and a special niche (a small alcove) where statues of the church's saints are placed.
Most of the outside walls, except for the old Mudéjar apse, are covered in reddish plaster. In some places, you can see another layer of plaster underneath that looks like brick.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de los Santos Justo y Pastor (Toledo) para niños
