San Julián de los Prados facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Church of San Julián de los Prados
Facade of the church of San Julián de los Prados
Religion
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Church
Year consecrated	9th century
Location
Location	Oviedo (Asturias), Spain
Architecture
Architect(s)	Tioda
Architectural type	Church
Architectural style	Pre-Romanesque
Specifications
Direction of façade	SE
Length	30 metres (98 ft)
Width	25 metres (82 ft)
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Type	Cultural
Criteria	ii, iv, vi
Designated	1985 (9th session)
Parent listing	Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias
Reference no.	312-005
Region	Europe and North America

The Church of San Julián de los Prados, also called Santullano, is a very old church. It was built in the early 800s in Oviedo, the capital city of Asturias, Spain. This church is a fantastic example of Asturian art. It was named an important historical and artistic place by Spain in 1917. Later, in 1998, UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site. This means it's a special place that is important to everyone in the world.

King Alfonso II of Asturias ordered the church to be built around the year 830. His main architect, Tioda, was in charge of the construction. The church is dedicated to two saints, Julian and Basilissa, who were important figures in early Christianity.

Church Design

This large church shows off its unique style very clearly. It has a basilican plan, which means it's shaped like a rectangle with a main hall and two side aisles. These parts are separated by strong square pillars that hold up rounded arches. The church also has a transept, which is a part that crosses the main hall, making the church look like a cross from above. This transept is very tall and impressive.

The screen that separates the main worship area (the sanctuary) from the rest of the church is called an iconostasis. It looks a lot like a triumphal arch, which is a grand arch built to celebrate victories. The church's large size and original design make it stand out from older buildings from the Visigothic period.

What really makes this church special are its amazing paintings. These aniconic frescoes are painted directly onto the walls using stucco, a type of plaster. They don't show people or animals, but instead feature beautiful architectural designs. These designs were influenced by ancient Roman art. Even though it seems like a church for monks, there was a special area in the transept just for the king.

An original window from the church.

The church originally had three entrances. Today, two of these entrances have been closed off.

Art and Details

Stone Carvings

The only stone carvings that are still here today are the marble capitals. These are the decorated tops of the pillars that support the rounded arches. You can also see two marble slabs in the central chapel. They have cool patterns with hexagonal shapes and flower designs.

Wall Paintings

The wall paintings are the most important part of the church's art. They are truly amazing for their time. These paintings cover a huge area and are still in great condition. They also show a wide variety of designs. Because of this, they are considered the most important paintings from this period in all of Western Europe.

See also

In Spanish: San Julián de los Prados para niños

• Asturian art
• Catholic Church in Spain
• Spanish architecture

Gallery

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  The outside of the church.

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  The church entrance.

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  Inside the church, looking towards the altar.

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  Inside view showing arches and wall paintings.

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  Close-up of the beautiful wall paintings inside.