San Juan y San Pedro de Renueva facts for kids
The Church of San Juan y San Pedro de Renueva is a beautiful church located in León, a city in central Spain. It's a special place that mixes old and new styles, making it quite unique.
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A Church with History
This church was built in the middle of the 1900s. It was designed in a style called Neo-Renaissance, which means "new Renaissance." This style looks back to the art and architecture of the Renaissance period, which was a time of great creativity in Europe. The church was built because a local bishop, Luis Almarcha Hernández, wanted it to be.
The Amazing Entrance Gate
One of the most interesting parts of the church is its main entrance gate. This gate is much older than the rest of the church! It's from the year 1711 and was originally part of a ruined monastery called San Pedro de Eslonza. This old monastery was about 22 kilometers (about 14 miles) outside of León. The gate was moved to the Church of San Juan y San Pedro de Renueva to give it a new life.
The gate was designed by an architect named Pedro Martínez de Cardeña. It's built in the Baroque style, which is known for being very fancy and detailed.
Details of the Gate
The gate has three main levels, or "orders."
- The first level has four tall Ionic columns standing on special bases. Ionic columns are known for their scroll-like tops.
- The second level is similar but uses Corinthian columns, which have more decorative, leafy tops. This part is also a bit narrower than the first.
- On the sides of the second level, you can see two round windows. Above them, there's another round window and a coat of arms, which is like a family crest.
The front of the gate also has five empty spaces, called niches. These spaces used to hold statues of saints, but now they are empty.
The Bell Towers
On either side of the main entrance, you'll see two tall, slender bell towers. These towers were built at the same time as the rest of the church in the 20th century. They stand tall and add to the church's impressive look.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de San Juan y San Pedro de Renueva para niños
