Málaga Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of Málaga |
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|---|---|
| Santa Iglesia Catedral Basílica de la Encarnación | |
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| 36°43′12″N 4°25′12″W / 36.720042°N 4.42012°W | |
| Location | Málaga |
| Country | Spain |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | malagacatedral.com |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | church |
| Groundbreaking | 1528 |
| Completed | 1782 |
| Specifications | |
| Height | 84 metres (276 ft) |
The Cathedral of Málaga is a large Roman Catholic church in the city of Málaga, located in southern Spain. It was built in the Renaissance style. The cathedral stands where old Moorish walls once were. These walls also surrounded the nearby Alcazaba and Gibralfaro Castle. Construction of the cathedral began in 1528 and finished in 1782. Its inside also features the beautiful Renaissance style.
Contents
Exploring the Cathedral's Design
The outside of the cathedral, called the façade, looks different from the rest of the building. It is built in the Baroque style. The façade has two main levels.
The Grand Entrance
On the lower level, you will see three large arches. Inside these arches are doorways, separated by tall marble columns. Above each door, there are stone carvings called medallions. The medallions above the side doors show the patron saints of Málaga, Saint Cyriacus and Saint Paula. The carving over the center door shows the Annunciation, which is when the Angel Gabriel told Mary she would have a baby.
The Towers of Málaga Cathedral
The north tower of the cathedral is very tall, reaching 84 metres (276 ft) high. This makes it the second-tallest cathedral in Andalusia, after the Giralda in Seville. However, the south tower was never fully finished. This unfinished look has given the cathedral a special nickname: "La Manquita". This means "The One-Armed Lady" in English.
Why the South Tower is Unfinished
Finishing the cathedral was very expensive. To help pay for it, a special tax was put on ships that came to Málaga. This tax helped the building work move quickly, especially in the 1700s.
However, a big part of the money meant for the cathedral was used for other things. A plaque at the base of the tower says that funds were sent to help the British colonies in America. These colonies were fighting for their independence from Great Britain. But some records suggest the money might have been used to fix roads in Málaga instead. This is why the south tower remains unfinished today.
Art and History Inside the Cathedral
The cathedral is filled with amazing artworks and historical pieces.
Chapels and Altarpieces
Inside, you can find the Gothic altarpiece in the Chapel of Santa Barbara. There are also 16th-century tombs in the Chapel of San Francisco. The Chapel of the Incarnation has a neoclassic altarpiece from 1785. This altarpiece was designed by Juan de Villanueva and carved by Antonio Ramos and Aldehuela.
This chapel also features sculptures of Málaga's patron saints, Saint Ciriaco and Saint Paula. These were carved by Juan Salazar Palomino in the 1700s. You can also see a painting called The Beheading of Saint Paul, painted by Enrique Simonet in 1887.
Recent Restoration Work
In 2023, work began to restore the cathedral's crypt. A crypt is an underground room, often used for burials. This restoration included the tombs of important historical figures like the Count and Countess of Buenavista.
Music and the Cathedral
The Cathedral of Málaga has a rich musical history. Many talented composers and musicians worked here as maestros de capilla, which means "chapel masters". These were the people in charge of the music. Some famous chapel masters include Cristóbal de Morales and Juan Francés de Iribarren.
Gallery
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The portals
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Side view
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It took years for construction of Malaga Cathedral to be completed.
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Side chapels
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Chapel of the Incarnation
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Lateral view of Málaga Cathedral in the 18th century
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Interior of the cathedral
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The choir room
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See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Málaga para niños
