San Nicolás de Bari, Burgos facts for kids
The Iglesia de San Nicolás de Bari is a Catholic church in Burgos, Spain. You can find it on Fernán González street, right next to the famous Camino de Santiago path. It stands just behind the impressive Cathedral of Burgos. This church is famous for having one of the biggest altarpieces in Spain. What makes it extra special is that it's the only one carved entirely from limestone.
Since the Church of San Esteban became a museum, San Nicolás de Bari has served as the main church for that area.
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Discover the Church of San Nicolás de Bari
This church was built in 1408. It replaced an older church that was built in the Romanesque style. Inside, the most amazing part is a huge altarpiece. This altarpiece is a masterpiece of Castilian Renaissance art. It was designed and created in the 15th century. The artists were Simón de Colonia and his son, Francisco de Colonia.
The altarpiece is dedicated to Saint Nicholas. It is truly unique because of its massive size and the material it's made from. It's the largest altarpiece from late medieval Burgos that was paid for by a regular person, not the church itself. It's also the only altarpiece from that time in the city made from stone.
The Amazing Limestone Altarpiece
A wealthy merchant from Burgos, Don Gonzalo Lopez de Polanco, paid for this main altarpiece. He financed it before he passed away in 1505. The altarpiece is very large, measuring about 15.55 meters tall and 9.04 meters wide. That's like a five-story building!
It is made from a special kind of limestone. This stone comes from Hontoria de Cantera, a small town near Burgos. This type of stone was often used to build large structures. For example, it was used for the Burgos Cathedral and the Monasteries of San Pablo. However, it was very unusual to use it for an altarpiece. Most altarpieces were carved from wood.
Other large altarpieces from that time are similar in size. These include the ones in the Cathedral of Toledo and the Cathedral of Seville. There are also big altarpieces at the Carthusian Monastery of El Paular and the Cathedral of Oviedo. But most of these grand works were carved from wood. Then, they were painted with many colors.
Other Interesting Features
Besides the altarpiece, the church has other cool things to see. There are Gothic tombs, which are old burial places. You can also see a Renaissance arch dedicated to María Sáez de Oña and Fernando de Mena. The church also has paintings from the Burgos School by the Master of San Nicolás. Many of these artworks were also paid for by the Polanco family.
The Church of San Nicolás de Bari in Burgos is very important. It was declared a National Monument in Spain on January 26, 1917. This means it is a protected historical site.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de San Nicolás de Bari (Burgos) para niños
