Santa Catalina, Valencia facts for kids
Santa Catalina is a beautiful old church in the city of Valencia, Spain. It is built in the Gothic style, which was popular a long time ago. This Roman Catholic church stands at the southern end of a busy place called Plaza de la Reina.
Contents
A Look Back: Santa Catalina's Story
The Church of Santa Catalina was first built in the early 1200s. It was built on the same spot where an older mosque once stood.
Over the years, the church changed. After a fire in 1548, much of the inside was rebuilt. It then got a new look called the Baroque style. The church also has a main entrance from the 1500s, which looks very classic.
The Famous Bell Tower
One of the most striking parts is its tall bell tower. This tower has a unique six-sided base and five levels. It was built between 1688 and 1705. The design was created by an architect named Juan Bautista Viñes. This tower stands where a minaret (a tower from a mosque) used to be. Even with these changes, the outside of the church still looks like it did in the 1200s. The church was also repaired in 1785.
The bells for the tower were made in London in 1729. Later, in 1914, a clock was added to the tower. During a restoration in 2012, workers found that the clock's machinery was quite new. They decided to remove it and put back an old bell that had been taken out in 1902.
Restorations and Repairs
In 1936, the church's interior was damaged. Many parts were burned. In the 1950s, people worked hard to restore what they could save. They also removed some newer additions that were covering the original Gothic design.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de Santa Catalina (Valencia) para niños
