Juan de Álava facts for kids

The "Casa de las Muertes" (House of Deaths) in Salamanca, a famous building designed by Juan de Álava.

Juan de Álava (born in 1480, died in 1537) was a very important Spanish architect. He was especially famous for his incredible stonework. His unique style was known as Plateresque, which means it looked like detailed silverwork because of its many decorations.

Early Life and Training

Juan de Álava was born in 1480 in a small town called Larrinoa. This town is located in Zigoitia, a part of Álava, Spain. He came from a family of stonemasons, who were skilled workers who cut and shaped stone for buildings.

In 1502, when he was about 22 years old, Juan de Álava traveled to Italy. There, he learned about Italian Renaissance architecture. This style was very popular at the time. It focused on balance, symmetry, and classical designs.

After his travels, Juan de Álava mostly worked in the city of Salamanca, Spain. Many of his most famous buildings can still be seen there today.

Amazing Buildings by Juan de Álava

Juan de Álava designed many important buildings during his career. Here are some of his most well-known projects:

• Casa de las Muertes (House of Deaths) in Salamanca (built around 1500)
• New Cathedral of Plasencia (started in 1513)
• Convento de San Esteban, Salamanca (a large monastery started in 1524)
• The Cloister of Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela
• The Chapel of the University of Salamanca (this building was later taken down)
• Colegio Mayor de Santiago el Zebedeo in Salamanca (finished in 1578, after his death)

See also

In Spanish: Juan de Álava para niños