Ourense Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ourense Cathedral |
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West façade and monumental stairway.
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| District | Ourense |
| Location | |
| Location | Ourense, Galicia, Spain |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | church |
| Architectural style | Mainly Gothic |
| Completed | 1220 |
The Ourense Cathedral (also called Catedral de Ourense or Catedral do San Martiño) is a large Roman Catholic church. You can find it in the city of Ourense in Galicia, Spain. This amazing building is dedicated to St Martin.
The first church on this spot was built way back in 550. The current building, which is mostly in the Gothic style, started being built around 1220. It was finished in 1220 with help from Bishop Lorenzo. The cathedral has changed a lot over time, showing different styles like Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassical. It has been an official basilica since 1887.
Contents
A Look at the Cathedral's History
The very first church in Ourense was called Santa María la Madre. In 550, a king named Chararic built a second church. This one was for St Martin of Tours and stood where the cathedral is today. Around the same time, the old arch bridge was built. This bridge made it easier to reach the warm springs nearby.
Over the years, the cathedral was damaged many times. It was attacked by the Moors and Northmen who came to the city. The building you see today was started in the 12th and 13th centuries. It began as a Romanesque church. Bishop Lorenzo helped a lot with its construction. He also helped build a new bridge and the bishop's palace. More Gothic parts were added until the early 1500s. We don't have many old papers about its building. But we know the main altar was officially blessed in 1188.
In June 1931, the cathedral was named a national monument. This means it's a very important historical building.
Exploring the Cathedral's Design
The Ourense Cathedral is shaped like a Latin cross when you look at it from above. It has a main area called the nave. On each side of the nave are slightly lower aisles. The cathedral is about 84 meters (275 feet) long. It is 43 meters (141 feet) wide across its arms, called the transept.
A tall, eight-sided Gothic tower sits above where the nave and transept meet. This tower has three levels of windows and was finished in 1505. The old curved end of the church was changed into a walking area. This area is surrounded by chapels. These include the 15th-century St John's Chapel and the 16th-century Chapel of Snows.
The North Door and South Door
The North Door (Portada Norte) first had a Romanesque design. Later, many Gothic parts were added. Above the door, there's a carving of Mary holding Christ's body. Other carvings show St Martin sharing his cloak. You can also see a figure of James the apostle. The towers on each side of the entrance were likely built to protect the doorway.
To the right of the South Door (Portada Sur) is a clock tower from the 16th century. The south side of the cathedral used to have two matching defense towers. But now the clock tower looks less grand. On the east side, there's an unfinished tower and a 40-meter-tall bell tower. The bell tower was fixed in the late 1800s. It was damaged by a big earthquake in Lisbon in 1755. You can still see a beautiful round window from the 16th century.
Inside the Cathedral
Inside the cathedral, you can clearly see the Gothic style. Look at the decorative arches and the vaulted ceiling in the nave. Over time, parts of the chapels have been repaired and decorated. These additions show Renaissance and Baroque styles.
The cathedral's main altar is a stunning example of flamboyant Gothic art. It's thought to be the work of Cornielles de Holanda. It has five tall panels, each with smaller sections. St Martin is in the middle panel, as he is the cathedral's patron saint. Other panels show scenes from the lives of Jesus and Mary. On each side of the main altar, there are two other altars. These honor the martyred saints of Ourense: Facundus, Primitivus, and Euphemia.
Christ's Chapel
Christ's Chapel (La capilla del Santo Cristo) is to the right of the North Door. It used to have a figure of Christ, but now it has an altar for Our Lady of the Pillar. This chapel was built because Bishop Vasco Pérez Mariño wanted to be buried close to the figure of Christ. The chapel is decorated in a fancy Baroque style. It has a beautiful screen by Juan Bautista Celma and a canopy by Domingo de Andrade. Other decorations were made by Francisco de Castro Canseco.
The Portico of Paradise
The 13th-century Portico of Paradise (Pórtico del Paraíso) was built by students of Master Mateo. He is famous for his work at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. This portico has three arches supported by thin columns. In the middle, a single column holds a statue of St James holding a sword. This sword reminds people of a legend where he helped in a battle. The original 13th-century statue was replaced in the 1800s.
Other carvings show Christ being tempted by the devil. There's also a medallion of God the Father. A small shrine shows St Martin tearing his cloak. The arches of the central doorway have figures of the 24 elders from the Book of Revelation. The columns themselves are carved with apostles and prophets. The tops of the columns show many different figures. These include Christ's temptations, centaurs fighting mermaids, dragons, and scary-faced harpies. These figures were once brightly colored. They were restored in the 18th century.
Important Burials
The cathedral was a burial place for many important people. From the 13th to the 15th centuries, several individuals were buried in its chapels. These chapels show different stages of Gothic design.
- Bishop Vasco Pérez Mariño (who died in 1342) is buried in the northern transept.
- Bishop Lorenzo (who died in the mid-12th century) is buried in the nave.
- Don Alonso González del Padrón is buried near St Luke's chapel.
- The Infantina, who might have been a Castilian princess, is buried near the Capilla de las Nieves.
- Two bishops, including Bishop Quevedo, are also buried on a wall in the church.
Cathedral Museum
You can visit the cathedral museum by going through a Romanesque door. This door leads to the Gothic cloisters, called Claustra Nova. The museum has many interesting items.
- El Incunable de Monterrey: This was the first book ever printed in Galicia in 1494.
- Enrique de Arfe's processional cross.
- 13th-century enamels from Limoges.
- The Treasure of San Rosendo.
- The oldest Christian tombstone in Galicia, from Baños de Bande.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Orense para niños
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Ourense
