Santa María La Antigua facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Antigua Church of Our Lady of the Antique
View of the church.
Religion
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
District	Valladolid
Status	Active
Location
Location	Valladolid, Province of Valladolid, Castile and León,  Spain
Architecture
Architectural style	Isabelline Gothic (Gothic), Renaissance
Completed	1088-1952
Spanish Property of Cultural Interest
Official name: Iglesia de Santa María La Antigua
Type	Monument
Designated	08-05-1897
Reference no.	RI-51-0000077

The Church of Saint Mary the Ancient is a very old church in Valladolid, Spain. People also call it Santa María La Antigua in Spanish. It was built a long, long time ago, in the 12th century. This church is so special that it was named a 'Property of Cultural Interest' in 1897.

The Church's Long History

Building Through the Ages

The church's tall bell tower.

• Ancient Foundations
  • Underneath the church today, people found old Roman foundations. These were from a hypocaustum, which was a Roman heating system.
  • This means there was likely a building here even before the church.
• First Church Ideas
  • The church was probably started in 1095.
  • It was likely founded by a person named Count Pedro Ansúrez.
  • However, none of the original church from that time remains today.
• Oldest Parts We See
  • The oldest parts of the church you can see now are from the late 12th century.
  • These include a gallery on the north side and the famous bell tower.
  • Both of these parts were built in the Romanesque style.
• The Famous Tower
  • The bell tower is a well-known symbol of Valladolid.
  • It has four floors, with windows on the top three.
  • The very top of the tower is shaped like a pyramid.

Gothic Changes and Repairs

• New Gothic Look
  • In the 14th century, the main parts of the church were rebuilt.
  • This included the naves (the long central parts) and the sanctuary (the holy area).
  • They were rebuilt in the Gothic style, similar to the grand Burgos Cathedral.
• Inside the Church
  • The church has three aisles, which are like long hallways.
  • It also has three polygonal apses, which are rounded ends of the church.
  • The ceilings inside are supported by special rib vaults.
• Fixing Problems
  • Over time, the church had some design problems and needed repairs.
  • In the mid-16th century, an architect named Rodrigo Gil de Hontañón helped fix it.
  • He added strong buttresses (supports) and new windows to stop parts from collapsing.

Art and Restoration

• Beautiful Artworks
  • From the same time, a large altarpiece was made for the main altar.
  • This amazing piece was created by Juan de Juni between 1550 and 1562.
  • It is now located in the Valladolid Cathedral.
• Hidden Beauty
  • In the 17th and 18th centuries, many new altarpieces were added inside.
  • These were in the Baroque style.
  • They covered up some of the original Gothic designs of the church.
• Bringing Back the Past
  • In the early 1900s, the church went through a big restoration.
  • The goal was to bring back its original Romanesque and Gothic look.
  • This was done following the ideas of a French architect named Eugène Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc.

Gallery

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  The church in the present day

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  Santa María Antigua in 1823 by Edward Hawke Locker

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  The church during early 20th century restoration

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  The church in the 1950s

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  The church in the 1980s

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  The church at night

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  A general view of the church

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  View from Portugalete Square

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  Front view of La Antigua Church on a misty winter night

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  Side view of the church in 2014

See also

In Spanish: Iglesia de Santa María La Antigua para niños

• List of Bien de Interés Cultural in the Province of Valladolid