Oviedo Cathedral facts for kids
The Cathedral of the Holy Saviour (also called the Cathedral of San Salvador) is a large Roman Catholic church in the city of Oviedo, in northern Spain. It's also known as a minor basilica, which is a special title given by the Pope to important churches.
This amazing building shows off many different styles of architecture. You can see parts that are Pre-Romanesque, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and even Baroque. It's like a history book made of stone!
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of the Holy Saviour |
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Catedral de San Salvador
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Façade of the cathedral
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic Church |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Cathedral, Minor basilica |
| Leadership | Archbishop Jesús Sanz Montes |
| Location | |
| Location | Oviedo, Spain |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Rodrigo Gil de Hontañón |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Gothic, Romanesque, Baroque, Renaissance |
| Groundbreaking | 781 |
| Direction of façade | O |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | ii, iv, vi |
| Designated | 1993 (17th session) |
| Parent listing | Routes of Santiago de Compostela: Camino Francés and Routes of Northern Spain |
| Reference no. | 669bis-005 |
| Region | Europe and North America |
| Type | Non-movable |
| Criteria | Monument |
| 3 June 1931 | |
| RI-51-0000785 | |
| Website | |
| Official Website: http://catedraldeoviedo.com/ | |
Contents
History of the Cathedral
The story of the Oviedo Cathedral began a very long time ago. King Fruela I of Asturias first founded a church here in 781 AD.
Early Beginnings
Later, his son, King Alfonso II of Asturias, also known as Alfonso the Chaste, made Oviedo the capital of his kingdom. He made the church bigger in 802 AD. Alfonso II also created the See of Oviedo in 810, making it an important religious center.
Medieval Changes
Over the centuries, the cathedral was rebuilt and changed many times. In the 12th century, Archbishop Pelagius of Oviedo helped restore it. Later, bishops like Fernando Alfonso and Fernando Alvarez started building the cloister, which is a covered walkway around a courtyard.
Around the late 1200s, Bishop Gutierre de Toledo began building the new Gothic basilica. Many other bishops and master builders continued the work. They added chapels, grilles, and beautiful stained-glass windows.
The Famous Tower
One of the most amazing parts of the cathedral is its tall tower. Bishop Cristóbal de Rojas added his family's symbol to the completed tower in the mid-1500s. This octagonal (eight-sided) tower is considered a marvel of Gothic architecture.
Building and Architecture
The Oviedo Cathedral is a mix of different building styles because it was built over many hundreds of years.
The First Buildings
The very first church on this spot was built in the late 700s by King Alfonso II. It was a simple, early Christian church in the Pre-Romanesque style. This area was the center of the Kingdom of Asturias, with a palace and other important buildings.
The Holy Chamber
The most important old part that still stands today is the Cámara Santa (which means "Holy Chamber"). It's a two-story building that holds many valuable treasures and relics. These include the famous Cross of the Angels and the Victory Cross, which are important symbols of the Asturian monarchy.
In the 12th century, the Cámara Santa was updated. Beautiful Romanesque statues of the Apostles were added. An old bell tower, called the "Torre Vieja" (Old Tower), also got taller with new arches.
Gothic Transformation
During the Late Middle Ages (around 1300 to 1550), the old church was gradually replaced with new Gothic parts. This included the chapter room, the cloister, the main chapel, and the main church area (aisles).
The chapter room, built around 1300, is the oldest Gothic part. The Gothic cloister was also built during this time, with different styles of Gothic windows as the work progressed.
A New Church Takes Shape
The church leaders decided to build a completely new church. They slowly took down the old Pre-Romanesque building. The main chapel was built first, and by 1451, it was finished.
Later, master builders from Northern Europe, like Nicolás de Bar, brought the new "flamboyant" Gothic style to Oviedo. Spanish builders like Juan de Candamo and Bartolomé de Solórzano continued the work, finishing the main and side aisles by 1500.
The Western Facade and Tower
The western front of the cathedral was the last part to be finished. A master builder named Juan de Badajoz "the Elder" started building a large entrance area called a narthex. This area was like a covered street, which was helpful because the streets around the cathedral were very narrow.
Originally, they planned for two towers, but they decided to build one huge bell tower instead. This was a popular choice in other parts of Europe at the time. The magnificent tower was finished in 1551. Later, lightning damaged its spire, but it was rebuilt, mixing Gothic and Renaissance styles.
Later Additions
In the 1600s and 1700s, more parts were added, including the ambulatory (a walkway around the altar), the sacristy, and several Baroque chapels. An older church nearby, Santa María del Rey Casto, was replaced with a new, highly decorated Baroque chapel.
Recent Restoration
The entire cathedral complex underwent a major restoration from 1998 to 2002. This project helped preserve this important historical building for future generations.
Cámara Santa (Holy Chamber)
The cathedral was also called Sancta Ovetensis because of the many important relics kept in its Cámara Santa (Holy Chamber). This Holy Chamber is the only part left from the very old medieval complex. It was built specifically to hold these treasures and relics, like the Cross of the Angels, the Victory Cross, and the Agate Box.
According to old stories, the Agate Box, which holds very precious relics from the Holy City, was brought from Jerusalem to Africa and then finally to Oviedo by King Alfonso II. It's a very special and ancient treasure.
Burials
Many important people are buried in the Oviedo Cathedral, including:
- Saint Eulogius of Córdoba
- Fruela I of Asturias (a king)
- Munia of Álava (wife of Fruela I)
- Teresa Ansúrez (wife of Sancho I of León)
- Alfonso III of Asturias (a king)
- Jimena of Pamplona (wife of Alfonso III of Asturias)
- Saint Leocadia (relics later moved)
- Saint Pelagius of Córdoba (a young martyr)
- García I of León (a king)
- Ordoño I of Asturias (a king)
- Ramiro I of Asturias (a king)
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Oviedo para niños
- Asturian architecture
- Catholic Church in Spain
- Sudarium of Oviedo
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oviedo
