Santa María Magdalena, Seville facts for kids
The Church of Santa María Magdalena is a beautiful Baroque church located in Seville, a city in southern Spain. It was built between 1691 and 1709, designed by the famous architect Leonardo de Figueroa.
This church is home to several hermandades, which are like special groups or brotherhoods. These groups are well-known for taking part in the amazing religious parades that Seville is famous for, especially during Holy Week.
Contents
History of the Church
Building a New Church
The Church of Santa María Magdalena was originally built for a Dominican monastery. The Dominicans are a group of Catholic priests and brothers. This new church replaced an older, medieval building. That older building had been standing since shortly after Christian forces took over the city of Seville in 1248.
From Monastery to Parish Church
In the 19th century, the monastery that the church belonged to was closed down. After that, Santa María Magdalena became a regular parish church. This means it became the main church for a local community, serving the people who lived nearby.
Church Design and Art
Outside the Church
The front of the church, called the façade, has three main entrances or portals. One of these portals features a cool sculpture of "St. Dominic" made by the artist Pedro Roldán. Above the entrances, you'll see a round window called an oculus. On either side of this window are two blue spheres. These spheres are symbols of the mystery of the rosary, which is a special prayer.
There's also a bell-gable from 1697, which is a wall-like structure that holds bells. The entire outside of the church is decorated with lots of blue and red designs, making it very colorful and eye-catching.
Inside the Church
The inside of the church is just as impressive. It has a large central area called a nave, with two smaller areas on the sides called aisles. There's also a transept, which is like the arms of a cross shape, and five chapels. One of these chapels is very old, as it's the only part left from the original medieval building. This is the chapel of the Hermandad de la Quinta Angustia, or the Brotherhood of the Fifth Anguish.
Above the nave, there's an octagonal dome, which means it has eight sides. The outside of this dome is decorated with figures that look like Inca people. The inside of the church is richly decorated in the Baroque style. You'll see lots of fancy stucco work (a type of plaster decoration) and gold-colored details, making it look very grand.
Amazing Artworks
The Chapel of the Dulce Nombre de Jesús (Sweet Name of Jesus) holds more beautiful art. It has another piece by Pedro Roldán and a sculpture called Christ Reborn by Jerónimo Hernández. The main altar, which is where the priest stands during services, is also in the Baroque style and dates from the 18th century. It features sculptures by Pedro Duque y Cornejo and Francisco de Ocampo.
Another important artwork is the retable (a large, decorated screen behind the altar) of the Assumption, created by Juan de Mesa. You can also find frescoes (wall paintings) by Lucas Valdés and two paintings by Francisco de Zurbarán inside the church.
See also
