San Carlos del Valle facts for kids
San Carlos del Valle is a small town in Spain. It is located in the region of Castile-La Mancha, within the province of Ciudad Real. About 1,200 people live there.
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Contents
A Look at History
Even though old traces of people from prehistoric times, Romans, and Arabs have been found, the town's story really begins with a small chapel. This chapel, called Santa Elena, was built a very long time ago, around the 1100s or 1200s. Inside, there was a special painting of Santo Cristo del Valle that people loved.
How the Town Grew
In the 1500s, people started to live permanently around this chapel. Many people would visit the chapel to pray to the Christ painting. Because so many pilgrims came, the King and the military orders decided to build a new, bigger chapel. They also built places for the pilgrims to stay.
Becoming an Independent Town
After a lot of building work during the time of King Philip V, the town grew quickly. More planning for the town was needed. Later, in December 1800, King Charles IV made San Carlos del Valle an independent town. This meant it could govern itself, just like it does today.
The Church of San Carlos del Valle
The main church in San Carlos del Valle is a beautiful example of Baroque style. It was built between 1613 and 1729. It looks a bit like the famous St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
Church Features
The church has four tall towers, each with a special pointed top. In the middle, there is a large dome that is over 28 meters (about 92 feet) high inside. On top of the dome, there's a very sharp spire that reaches 47 meters (about 154 feet) from the ground! In 1993, this amazing church was named a national monument. This means it is a very important cultural building.
See also
In Spanish: San Carlos del Valle para niños
