Jaca Cathedral Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Cathedral of Saint Peter the Apostle of Jaca Catedral de San Pedro Apóstol
Side entrance of the Cathedral of Jaca
Religion
Affiliation	Catholic Church
Rite	Roman Rite
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Cathedral
Leadership	Vacant
Location
Location	Jaca, Spain
Architecture
Architectural type	Church
Architectural style	Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, Renaissance
Groundbreaking	11th century
Completed	12th century

The Cathedral of Saint Peter the Apostle (also known as Catedral de San Pedro Apóstol in Spanish) is a very old and important Catholic church in Jaca, a city in Aragon, Spain. It's like the main church for the Diocese of Jaca, which is a special area managed by a bishop.

This cathedral is super special because it was one of the first Romanesque cathedrals ever built in Aragon. It started being built around the 1070s and was mostly finished by the early 12th century. This makes it one of the oldest cathedrals in the whole Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal).

Over time, the cathedral has changed quite a bit. Many parts were added or updated, especially between the late 1400s and late 1700s. King Sancho Ramírez ordered its construction. He got permission from Pope Alexander II to build a main church in Jaca, which was the capital of the Kingdom of Aragon back then.

History of the Cathedral
- Building the First Cathedral
- Changes Over the Years
What the Cathedral Looks Like
- Chapels and Artworks
See also

History of the Cathedral

Building the First Cathedral

Jaca became the capital of Aragon in 1036. Then, in 1077, it became a city with its own bishop. This meant they needed a big church, a cathedral! We don't know the exact date construction started. But most people think it was around 1077. The main part of the church was finished around 1130.

Changes Over the Years

In 1395, a big fire damaged the cathedral's roof. It was rebuilt in the years that followed. Then, in the early 1500s, it got a major makeover. They added side sections (called aisles) and made the central part of the church (the nave) bigger.

Later, during the Baroque period, more parts were added. These included the beautiful St. Horosia Chapel, a covered walkway (loggia), and a cloister (an open courtyard). The inside of the cathedral also got new decorations and a large altarpiece.

In the late 1700s, one of the rounded ends of the church (an apse) was taken down and rebuilt. The main central apse was also updated at this time.

What the Cathedral Looks Like

The Jaca Cathedral mostly has a Romanesque style. But you can also see parts that are Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque. It has a main central area (nave) and two side areas (aisles). There are three rounded ends (apses) and two main entrances with covered walkways. Only one of the current apses is from the original building. The central one was updated in the 1700s, and the other was completely rebuilt then.

Interior of the cathedral

Inside, the main area and the side areas are separated by arches. These arches are held up by pillars that switch between being shaped like a cross and being round. This style was inspired by churches in France at the time. The tops of these pillars, called capitals, are decorated with plants and geometric shapes.

The ceiling was originally made of wood. But later, it was replaced with cross vaults, which are arched stone ceilings. The large dome in the middle of the church is shaped like an octagon.

Chapels and Artworks

Around the main part of the church, there are several chapels. These were built from the late 1400s to the mid-1600s. The older chapels, like those for the Holy Cross and St. Augustine, are in a late Gothic style. Chapels built in the 1500s, such as St. Michael and St. Jerome, show Renaissance and Mannerist influences. The chapel of St. Horosia was completely redone in the 1700s and is in the Baroque style.

The cathedral is also home to amazing artworks. The altarpiece in the St. Michael Chapel was carved by several artists, including Gil Morales the Younger and Giovanni de Moreto. Giovanni de Moreto also led the building of this chapel. It's considered one of the best examples of Renaissance-Plateresque art in Aragon. The altarpiece for the main altar was finished in the early 1600s. The famous artist Manuel Bayeu, who was the brother-in-law of Francisco Goya, painted the decorations in the central apse in 1792–1793.