San Tirso, Oviedo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of Saint ThyrsusIglesia de San Tirso |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Province | Asturias |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Church |
| Location | |
| Location |  Oviedo, Spain |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Tioda |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Pre-Romanesque, Romanesque |
| Completed | 9th century |
| Website | |
| Official Website: http://www.iglesiadeasturias.org | |
The Church of Saint Thyrsus is an old Roman Catholic church in Oviedo, Asturias, northern Spain. It is also known by its Spanish name, Iglesia de San Tirso. This historic church was built around the 790s.
The church is named after Saint Thyrsus. A royal architect named Tioda built it for King Alfonso II of Asturias. Sadly, a big fire in Oviedo in 1521 damaged much of the church. Later, in the 1700s, more parts were rebuilt. Because of this, only a small part of the original church remains today.
The Church Building
Over many years, the Church of Saint Thyrsus has been changed a lot. Because of this, only its basic shape and layout are still the same as they were long ago. The church is built like a basilica. This means it has a main area called a nave and two side areas called aisles.
These areas are separated by strong stone pillars. These pillars are not placed at equal distances from each other. Round arches connect the pillars. In one part of the church, an arch was made pointed. This was done so its top would be as high as the other round arches. This way of building was common even in ancient Roman times. It helped make rooms of different sizes look like they had the same height.
Special Window
In the rectangular main part of the church, there is a special window. This window has three round arches and is about 2 meters (6.5 feet) tall and 2 meters wide. It is one of the few parts left from the original church.
This window shows the building style from the time of King Alfonso II of Asturias. It has old bases, rough brick arches, and capitals (the tops of columns) with simple leaf designs. This window helps us imagine how beautiful the church was when it was first built. We also know that the Church of San Tirso once held the Royal Chapel. This was a special place for the king and his family to worship.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de San Tirso el Real (Oviedo) para niños
- Asturian architecture
- Catholic Church in Spain
