San Pablo (Zaragoza) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids San Pablo Church |
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Iglesia de San Pablo
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic Church |
| Status | Church |
| Location | |
| Location | Zaragoza, Spain |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural style | Gothic, Mudéjar |
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
| Official name | Tower and Parish church of San Pablo |
| Part of | Mudéjar Architecture of Aragon |
| Criteria | Cultural: (iv) |
| Inscription | 1986 (10th Session) |
| Extensions | 2001, 2016 |
| Type: | Non-movable |
| Criteria: | Monument |
| Designated: | 3 June 1931 |
| Reference #: | RI-51-0001030 |
The San Pablo Church is an amazing old church located in Zaragoza, Spain. It's a special building because it mixes two cool styles: Gothic and Mudéjar. The first parts of the church were built a very long time ago, in the late 1200s or early 1300s. Over the years, it has been made bigger and changed many times.
Contents
A Look at San Pablo's History
How the Church Grew Over Time
The church started small in the 1300s. It had one main hall, like a long room, with special arched ceilings. It also had small side rooms called chapels.
In 1343, a tall tower was added. This tower was built in the Mudéjar style, which uses a lot of brickwork and decorative patterns. At first, the tower was outside near the entrance. But as the church grew, it became part of the main building.
Later, in the 1400s, two more long sections were added to the sides of the church. This made the church much wider. From then until the 1700s, even more chapels were built on the right side, front, and back of the church.
Exploring the Church's Features
The Beautiful Entrance and Tower
The main entrance, called the Gothic portal, was built in the 1400s. It has many detailed sculptures. You can see statues of Saint Peter and Saint Paul on the sides. Above the door, there's a carving of Christ sitting, with the Virgin Mary, Saint John, and Saint Blaise nearby.
The church's tower is shaped like an octagon, which means it has eight sides. It's made of brick, just like the rest of the church. Some of the bricks are decorated with cool patterns. The bottom part of the tower is now inside the church, so you can't see it from the outside. It has an old Arab-style design. The upper parts of the tower have more Mudéjar decorations, with pretty windows and small arches. At the very top, there's a pointy roof called a spire.
The Main Altar's Art Piece
Inside the church, the most important part is the main altar. It has a huge, decorated screen behind it called a retablo. This retablo is made of wood, covered in gold, and painted with many colors. A famous artist named Damián Forment created it between 1515 and 1518.
Protecting This Historic Place
Recognized as a National Monument
Because San Pablo Church is so old and important, it was named a "national monument" in Spain in 1931. This means it's a protected building.
Part of a World Heritage Site
In 2001, the church became even more special. It was included in the World Heritage Site list as part of the "Mudéjar Architecture of Aragon". This means it's recognized by UNESCO as a place that's important to the whole world's history and culture.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de San Pablo (Zaragoza) para niños
