Oratory of the Borgias facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oratory of the Borgias |
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| Oratory of the Borgias | |
Oratory of the Borgias
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| 38°58′1.07″N 0°10′48.84″W / 38.9669639°N 0.1802333°W | |
| Location | Canals (Valencia) |
| Country |  Spain |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Founded | 13th century |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Valencian Gothic |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Valencia |
The Oratory of the Borgias, also known as the Church of the Tower, is a historic building in Canals, a town in Valencia, Spain. It's an old church built in the early Valencian Gothic style, likely in the 1200s. This special place was once part of the grand palace complex of the famous Borgia family. It was their main base in the area called Señorío de Torre de Canals.
Contents
Location and History of the Oratory
This ancient oratory stands right in front of the Borgias Tower. Over many years, the building has been updated and changed several times. It holds a lot of history from the Borgia family, who were very powerful.
Art and Features Inside
Inside the Oratory, you can find a medieval painting. It's a wooden panel showing the Last Judgment, a scene from Christian belief. Experts believe this artwork was created by an artist known as the Master of Borbotó. The Oratory also used to display a shield with the coat of arms of the House of Borgia. Sadly, this shield was lost during some changes made to the building in 1878.
Building Design and Structure
The Oratory was originally dedicated to the True Cross. The building has a simple, rectangular shape with one main room, called a nave. Its walls are made from stone and mortar, which are strong building materials. The roof is shaped like a gable (a pointed roof) and is held up by two large arches. These arches are supported by strong pillars. Part of the roof was originally made of wood.
The main altar, which was a very important part of the church, was lost during the Spanish Civil War. People believe that one of the paintings on this altar showed the True Cross. Historical stories say that this painting was a gift from Pope Callixtus III, who was a member of the Borgia family.
See also
In Spanish: Oratorio de los Borja para niños
