San Pedro (Córdoba) facts for kids

This is the beautiful Basilica of San Pedro in Córdoba, Spain.

San Pedro (which means Saint Peter) is a very old and important church in the city of Córdoba, Spain. It's called a "minor basilica," which is a special title given by the Pope to churches that are very important for their history or religious significance. You can find this church in a part of the city that is also called San Pedro.

History of San Pedro

This church is built on a very old spot! People believe that an even older building, possibly from the 300s AD, stood here before. This earlier building might have held the remains of important people from Córdoba, like Januarius, Martial, and Faustus.

After King Ferdinand III of Castile took over the city of Córdoba in 1236, he started building many Christian churches. He wanted to give the city a new Christian look, as it had been under Muslim rule before. San Pedro church was one of these projects. Building started in the late 1200s and was finished in the early 1300s.

The church you see today looks a bit different from its original design. Most of its current appearance comes from repairs and changes made over many years. Some parts of the old bell tower and two of the medieval (Middle Ages) gates are still there. A new gate was added in 1542 by an architect named Hernán Ruiz II.

In 2006, something special happened: Pope Benedict XVI gave the church the title of "minor basilica." This is a big honor! The church is also recognized as a "Bien de Interés Cultural," which means it's a very important cultural landmark in Spain, protected by the government.

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