Priory Church, El Puerto de Santa María Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Great Priory Church
Native name Spanish: Iglesia Mayor Prioral
Plateresque sculpture adorns the church's south entrance which is known as the "Puerta del Sol"
Location	El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz, Spain

Spanish Property of Cultural Interest
Official name: Iglesia Mayor Prioral
Type	Non-movable
Criteria	Monument
Designated	1982-11-12
Reference no.	(R.I.) - 51 - 0004729 - 00000

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The Priory Church (in Spanish, Iglesia Mayor Prioral) is a beautiful church in El Puerto de Santa María, a town in the province of Cádiz, Spain. It's also known as a "minor basilica," which is a special title given by the Pope.

This church has a long history. Records show that people started building it around 1486. Later, in the 1600s, an earthquake caused some damage. Because of this, parts of the church had to be rebuilt. This means the church shows off two main styles: the older Gothic style and the newer Baroque style. You can see these different styles especially in its doorways.

The church is very important to Spain's history and culture. In 1982, it was officially named a Bien de Interés Cultural. This means it's a protected heritage site.

Location of the Church
History of the Priory Church
- The Church Today
Church Architecture
- Exterior Design
- Inside the Church
Images for kids
See also

Location of the Church

The Priory Church is easy to find in El Puerto de Santa María. It stands proudly on one side of Plaza España. Right across from it, you'll see the Municipal Museum. Because the church is so central, locals often call the square "Plaza de la Iglesia," which simply means "Church Square."

The church was built in this specific spot for a good reason. It was placed here to keep it safe from floods. The nearby Guadalete River could sometimes overflow, but the church's location helped protect it.

History of the Priory Church

The very first Priory Church in El Puerto de Santa María was started way back in the 1200s. However, the church you see today began construction much later. Work on the current building started in the late 1400s.

Documents from 1486 mention that construction was underway. The church first opened its doors for people to worship in 1493. We don't know the exact year it was fully finished. Alonso Rodríguez is one of the architects known to have worked on it.

The church was built using strong sandstone. This stone came from the Sierra de San Cristóbal, a mountain range close by in Cádiz. Interestingly, sandstone from the same area was also used for the large pillars inside Seville Cathedral.

Over time, new parts were added to the church. For example, the first chapel next to the main part of the church was built in 1517. A man named Juan de Lucena built it. Later, in 1533, Benito Benavides and his wife bought this chapel. They wanted to use it as their burial place.

In 1636, a big earthquake hit El Puerto de Santa María. The church was damaged during this natural disaster.

The Church Today

Today, the Priory Church is still a very active place. People can go there for public worship services. It's also a popular spot for tourists to visit. Visitors can explore its history and admire its beautiful architecture.

Church Architecture

The Priory Church is a mix of different building styles. It was originally built in the Gothic style. However, over the years, new parts were added and changes were made. This means it also has elements of Baroque and Plateresque styles.

Exterior Design

The church has several doorways, each from a different time period. One of the oldest entrances is called the "Door of Forgiveness." This doorway is in the Gothic style and was part of the original church.

The main entrance used today is called the "Sun Portal" (Puerta del Sol). This beautiful doorway leads from Plaza España into the church.

The "Puerta del Sol" (Sun Portal) is a beautiful entrance to the church.

The Puerta del Sol was added to the church in the 1500s, likely between 1535 and 1544. It is thought that Martin Gaínza, an architect who also worked on Seville Cathedral, designed it. A wealthy person named Don Juan de la Cerda, who was the Duke of Medina at the time, paid for its original construction.

More additions were made to the Puerta del Sol in the 1600s. This happened when the church was being rebuilt after the earthquake. You can see sculptures on the doorway that show Christian virtues like faith, hope, and charity. There are also small sculptures of important religious figures called the Church Fathers in the spaces between the lower columns.

Inside the Church

The inside of the Priory Church is just as interesting as the outside. It also shows a mix of styles because of all the restoration work done over its history. There are many important architectural features and beautiful works of art inside.

One special feature is the two altarpieces. An altarpiece is a piece of art that stands behind the altar in a church. One of these altarpieces was made of silver by Jose Medina in 1682. It is now in the Chapel of the Shrine. Another altarpiece, found in the Chapel of Our Lady of Miracles, was created in the 1500s by an artist from the Pedro Duque y Cornejo school.