Santa María la Mayor (Alcañiz) facts for kids
Santa María la Mayor is a beautiful old church located in Alcañiz, a town in northern Spain. For many years, from 1407 to 1851, it was a special kind of church called a collegiate church. This means it had a group of priests, called canons, who lived and worked there. The church is famous for its tall Gothic tower and its grand front, which is built in the fancy Baroque style.
Contents
History of the Church
Building the First Church
The first church was built a very long time ago, in the 1200s. From this original building, only the tall bell tower and a few other parts are still standing today. This early church had a main area called a nave, two side aisles, and a rounded end called an apse.
The church's tower was made very tall on purpose. It was part of a friendly competition between the town leaders and the nearby castle. This castle belonged to a group of knights called the Order of Calatrava. In 1407, a special leader named Pope Benedict XIII made it a collegiate church.
Adding New Parts and Rebuilding
In the 1500s, a new chapel was added to the church. This chapel held statues of the Virgin of the Solitude and Jesus.
By the 1700s, the old Gothic church was in poor condition. One of its columns had even fallen down! So, people decided to tear it down and build a brand new, larger church. The new design was inspired by the famous Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza.
The Grand Baroque Design
The new church has a large front, called a façade, with two tall towers on the sides. In the middle is a beautiful main entrance. This entrance was designed by a talented artist named Domingo de Yarza. He also designed parts of the Basilica of the Pillar.
On the lower part of the entrance, you can see sculptures of Saints Peter and Paul. Above them, there are four Archangels standing around a large sculpture of Saint Mary. At the very top, you'll find sculptures of St. Thomas of Aquino on the left and St. Vincent Ferrer on the right.
Above the main gate, there is a special crest. It shows the bamboo plant from Alcañiz's town symbol and the crest of Pope Benedict XIII. This grand entrance was finished in 1779.
Inside the Church
Inside the church, the main area and the arms of the transept (the cross-shaped part) have curved ceilings called barrel vaults. The side aisles have a different type of curved ceiling called a groin vault. The smaller chapels on the sides have round or oval domes.
The main dome in the center of the church is made of brick. It has eight sides and is decorated with interesting patterns.
The church also holds several beautiful paintings. The most important one is an old Gothic painting with many panels. It is thought to be from the workshop of Domingo Ram and includes a painting of Saint Mary Magdalene. There are also six other paintings from the early 1500s, believed to be by an artist known as the "Master of Alcañiz."
See also
- Catholic Church in Spain
- In Spanish: Iglesia de Santa María la Mayor (Alcañiz) for kids
