San Juan Bautista, Vélez-Málaga facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of San Juan Bautista |
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| Native name Spanish: Iglesia de San Juan Bautista |
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| Location | Vélez-Málaga, Spain |
| Built | 1487 |
| Architectural style(s) | Gothic-Mudejar/Neoclassical |
| Official name: Iglesia de San Juan Bautista | |
| Type | Non-movable |
| Criteria | Monument |
| Designated | 2006 |
| Reference no. | RI-51-0012024 |
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The Church of San Juan Bautista (also known as the Iglesia de San Juan Bautista in Spanish) is a beautiful old church in Vélez-Málaga, a town in the province of Málaga, Spain. It's a special building dedicated to John the Baptist. Over many years, this church has changed its look several times, following different building styles popular at the time. It is considered an important historical monument.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's History
Early Beginnings
The first version of the Church of San Juan Bautista was built way back in 1487. It was designed in a mix of styles called Gothic and Mudejar. The Gothic style was popular in Europe, while Mudejar blended Christian and Islamic art, often seen in Spain.
Later in the same century, the church was updated. Then, between 1541 and 1564, a bishop named Fray Bernardo Manrique made the church even bigger. During this time, the church's tower was also built.
Baroque and Neoclassical Changes
The church saw many big changes during the Baroque period, which was a style known for being very fancy and dramatic. You can still see parts of these Baroque designs today.
More updates happened in the late 1700s. A special room called the sacristy, where priests prepare for services, was decorated in 1789. This amazing work is thought to have been done by José Martín de Aldehuela.
The biggest changes to the church happened between 1853 and 1860. Bishop Juan Nepomuceno Castellana oversaw these updates. This is when the church got its Neoclassical look, which is a style inspired by ancient Greek and Roman buildings.
These works were ordered by Federico Vahey, who was an important lawyer and minister for Queen Isabel II. He also asked for a special chapel to be built. This chapel was meant for a saint called San Federico, but today it is known as the Cristo de las Vigías.
Inside the Church
To enter the main part of the church, you walk through a special entrance area. This area has beautiful decorations made of stucco (a type of plaster). These decorations show plants and symbols from old stories.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de San Juan Bautista (Vélez-Málaga) para niños
