La Magdalena, Jaén facts for kids
La Magdalena is an old, beautiful church in Jaén, a city in southern Spain. It is a Roman Catholic church built in the Gothic style. This means it has tall arches, pointed windows, and detailed stone work.
A Church with a Long History
This church has a very long history! It was built on top of an even older building. This older building was a mosque, a place of worship for Muslims. It was built way back in 825 by a ruler named Abd ar-Rahman II.
The church's bell tower used to be the mosque's minaret. A minaret is a tall tower where people were called to prayer. A famous architect, Andrés de Vandelvira, might have helped redesign it.
Inside the church, there is a special pool. Long ago, Muslims used this pool to wash before they prayed.
What You See Inside
The Church of La Magdalena has a main area called a nave. It also has three aisles, which are like side sections. These parts are separated by arches. The ceilings have ribbed vaults, which are special curved supports that look like ribs.
The main entrance has beautiful decorations in a style called Isabelline Gothic. This style is known for its fancy, detailed designs.
Inside the church, you can find many interesting artworks:
- A colorful group of sculptures showing the Calvary. This artwork is thought to be by Jacobo Florentino or Jerónimo Quijano.
- A sculpture called Christ of the Mercy from 1593, made by Salvador de Cuéllar.
- A sculpture of a Kneeling Magdalen from 1572, made by Mateo Medina.
The church also has many paintings from the 1600s and 1700s. The main doors were carved in 1555.
The Legend of the Lizard of Jaén
Outside the church, in the plaza, there is a pool with a statue of the Lizard of Jaén. This statue shows a legendary monster from the area. The legend says that a giant lizard used to live in a cave near Jaén. It would come out at night and eat animals and even people. The people of Jaén were very scared.
One day, a brave young man came up with a plan. He filled a sheepskin with gunpowder and left it for the lizard. The lizard ate it, and the gunpowder exploded, killing the monster. This legend is a famous part of Jaén's history.
See also
- Catholic Church in Spain
