San Juan el Real, Calatayud facts for kids
San Juan el Real, also known as St John the Royal, is a beautiful Baroque-style church. It is a Roman Catholic church found in the city of Calatayud, in the Aragon region of Spain.
41°21′9.079″N 1°38′36.514″W / 41.35252194°N 1.64347611°W
Contents
History of the Church
How the Church Began
The church was first built for the Jesuit order, a group of Catholic priests. It was originally dedicated to the Virgen del Pilar, a special religious figure.
Becoming a Parish Church
In 1769, the Jesuits had to leave Spain. The local people then took over the church. They turned it into their main parish church. This new church replaced an older one from the 12th century, which was falling apart. The church was then renamed San Juan el Real.
Art and Architecture
Church Design and Look
The outside of the church is made of brick and looks quite simple. It has tall, pointed towers on top. The church is shaped like a Latin cross when you look at it from above. Inside, it has fancy stucco decorations.
The Bell Tower
The church's bell tower was built later, between 1774 and 1777. It is in the Mudéjar style. This style mixes Christian and Islamic art. The tower's design matched other towers in Calatayud. The higher up you look on the tower, the more decorations you will see.
Inside the Church
The inside of the church was not fully decorated until after 1769. The main altar, called a Retablo, is a beautiful Baroque artwork. It was created by an artist named Gabriel Navarro.
Paintings by Goya
Just below the main dome, there are four paintings by a young artist named Francisco de Goya. He painted these in 1766. They show four important figures from the church: Saints Augustine, Ambrose, Hieronymus, and Pope Gregory the Great. Goya was only twenty years old when he painted these. The paintings had become dark over time but have recently been cleaned and restored.
Other Artworks
In the middle part of the church, there are two large paintings. One is called Immaculate Conception by Joseph Luzán. The other is a painting of St John by an artist whose name is not known. The church also has a sacristy, which is a room where priests prepare. This room is now a museum. It displays many beautiful Baroque artworks.
The Main Entrance
The main entrance, or portal, of the church is in the Renaissance style. It might have come from an older church called San Salvador. Above the doorway, there is a small space with a statue of St John. This statue was added between 1774 and 1777. You can also see the coat of arms of King Ferdinand VI there.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de San Juan el Real (Calatayud) para niños
