San Nicolás de Bari, Burgos facts for kids
The Church of San Nicolás de Bari is a Catholic church in Burgos, Spain. It stands on Fernán González street, right next to the famous Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route. You can find it just behind the impressive Cathedral of Burgos. This church is especially famous for its amazing main altarpiece, which is one of the biggest in Spain. What makes it truly special is that it's the only large altarpiece carved entirely from limestone.
Since the Church of San Esteban became a museum, the Church of San Nicolás de Bari has served as the main church for the San Esteban parish.
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Discovering the Church of San Nicolás
The Church of San Nicolás de Bari was built in 1408. It replaced an older church that was built in the Romanesque style. Inside, the most striking feature is its huge main altarpiece. This altarpiece is a masterpiece of Castilian Renaissance art.
The Amazing Main Altarpiece
The main altarpiece was designed and created in the 15th century. The artists were Simón de Colonia and his son, Francisco de Colonia. This altarpiece is dedicated to Saint Nicholas. It is truly unique because of its massive size and the materials used. It is the largest carved altarpiece from the late Middle Ages in Burgos. It is also the only stone altarpiece from that time that still exists in the city.
A wealthy merchant from Burgos, Don Gonzalo Lopez de Polanco, paid for this incredible altarpiece. He financed the work before he passed away in 1505. The altarpiece is huge, measuring about 15.55 meters (51 feet) tall and 9.04 meters (30 feet) wide. It is made from a special type of porous limestone. This stone came from Hontoria de Cantera, a small town in the province of Burgos. This kind of stone was often used for building 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 altarpieces.
Other famous altarpieces from Spain are similar in size. These include the ones in the Toledo Cathedral, the Seville Cathedral, the Monastery of El Paular, and the Oviedo Cathedral. However, most of these other large altarpieces were carved from wood. Then, they were painted with many colors. The San Nicolás de Bari altarpiece stands out because it is made of stone.
Other Treasures Inside
Besides the main altarpiece, the church has other interesting features. You can see beautiful Gothic tombs. There is also a Renaissance arch dedicated to María Sáez de Oña and Fernando de Mena. The church also displays paintings from the Burgos School, created by the Master of San Nicolás. Many of these artworks were also paid for by the generous Polanco family.
The Church of San Nicolás de Bari in Burgos is very important. It was officially declared a National Monument in Spain on January 26, 1917. This means it is a protected historical and artistic site.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de San Nicolás de Bari (Burgos) para niños
