Santos Juanes, Valencia facts for kids
The Santos Juanes Church, also known as Sant Joan del Mercat, is a beautiful Roman Catholic church in Valencia, Spain. You can find it in the Mercat neighborhood. It's right next to Valencia's Central Market. It also faces the famous Llotja de la Seda building. Because of its location, people sometimes call it "St John of the Market."
Contents
History of Santos Juanes Church
The Santos Juanes Church has a long history. In the mid-1200s, a church was built here. It was built on the spot where an old mosque used to be. This first church was made in the Gothic style.
Fires and Rebuilding
The church faced some tough times. Fires in the 1300s meant it had to be rebuilt. Then, a very big fire happened in 1592. This fire caused a lot of damage. So, the church needed to be rebuilt again.
Archbishop Juan de Ribera ordered this new building project. It was finished around 1700. This time, the church was rebuilt in a grand Baroque style. This style is known for being very detailed and fancy. The church was located in an area called Boatella. This area was outside the city walls back then.
Outside the Church
The outside of the Santos Juanes Church is very interesting. The main front of the church still has a round window. This window is now walled up. It is a leftover from the older Gothic church.
Special Statues and Symbols
On the back of the church, facing the square, you can see a special statue. It shows the Virgen del Rosario (Virgin of the Rosary). This statue is believed to be made by Jacopo Bertesi. It shows the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus. They are surrounded by rays of light, angels, and cherubs.
Other parts of the church have symbols. You can see the lamb, which stands for John the Baptist. There is also an eagle, which represents John the Evangelist.
Clock Tower and Roof Statues
A clock tower stands tall in the center of the church's roof. The roof also has many statues. These statues include the two "Juanes" (Johns). They are John the Baptist and John the Evangelist. You can also see statues of Saints Francesco Borgia and Luis Bertrán. The front of the church also has a lamb on top of a book. This symbol has five seals.
Inside the Church
The inside of the Santos Juanes Church is just as amazing. You can find statues of the 12 tribes of Israel. These statues were also made by Jacopo Bertesi.
Ceiling Paintings
The ceiling has huge paintings called frescoes. These paintings show many scenes about the Church Triumphant. They were painted by Antonio Palomino.
Damage and Repair
Sadly, the church's inside, including the beautiful ceiling paintings, was damaged. This happened during the Spanish Civil War. The damage was caused by fire.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de los Santos Juanes (Valencia) para niños
