Orihuela Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Orihuela CathedralCatedral de Orihuela |
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Main façade.
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic Church |
| Location | |
| Location | Orihuela, Spain |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Valencian Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque |
The Orihuela Cathedral (also known as Catedral de Orihuela) is an important Catholic church located in Orihuela, a city in southern Spain. It is the main church in the city.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
The Orihuela Cathedral was built on the site of an older mosque (a Muslim place of worship). It started as a simple local church. In 1281, Alfonso X of Castile, a king of Spain, ordered it to become a main church.
In 1413, a religious leader named Benedict XIII made it a "collegiate" church. This meant it had a group of priests who lived and worked together. Finally, in 1510, it officially became a cathedral.
Building the Cathedral
Construction of the cathedral began in the late 1200s. It was built in the Valencian Gothic style. This style is known for its tall, pointed arches and large windows. The church has a Latin cross shape, which means it looks like a cross from above. It has a main area (nave) and two side sections (aisles).
The church also has an ambulatory, which is a walkway around the main altar. There are also small chapels built into the buttresses (supports on the outside walls).
During the 1400s and early 1500s, more parts were added. These included the crossing (where the nave and transept meet) and a large Gothic chapel. To make the main vault (ceiling) taller, two pillars in the nave were removed. This change was designed by an architect named Pere Compte.
Cathedral's Design and Features
The inside of the cathedral does not get a lot of natural light. This is because its windows are quite small. The cathedral has three main entrances, each with a different style:
- The Puerta de las Cadenas (Portal of the Chains) was built in the 1300s and has an Islamic style.
- The Puerta de Loreto was built in the mid-1400s and is in the Gothic style.
- The Gate of the Annunciation, on the north side, was built in 1588 by Juan Inglés. It looks like a Renaissance-style triumphal arch.
Other Renaissance features include the choir stalls (seats for the choir) and their decorative metal grills. The cloister, an enclosed courtyard, was first built in 1377 but was rebuilt until 1560.
The oldest part of the cathedral is its bell tower. It dates back to the late 1100s and mid-1300s. It has four floors, each with a groin vault ceiling.
Art and Music
Next to the cathedral is a museum of Sacred Art. This museum holds many important artworks. You can see paintings by famous artists like Diego Velázquez (including his painting Temptation of St. Thomas), Vicente López Portaña, José de Ribera, Juan de Juanes, and Francisco Salzillo.
The cathedral also has a very large organ. It was built in 1733 by craftsmen from Valencia during a time when the church was being updated in the Baroque style.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Orihuela para niños
