Segovia Cathedral Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Segovia Cathedral
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption and of Saint Fructus
Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción y de San Frutos
West façade and bell tower as seen from the Alcázar.
40°57′00″N 4°07′31″W / 40.95°N 4.12528°W / 40.95; -4.12528
Location	Segovia
Country	Spain
Denomination	Catholic
History
Status	Cathedral
Dedication	Assumption of the Virgin Mary and Saint Fructus
Dedicated	16 July 1768
Architecture
Architect(s)	Juan Gil de Hontañón (first)
Style	Late Gothic
Groundbreaking	8 June 1525
Specifications
Tower height	88 m (288 ft 9 in)
Administration
Metropolis	Valladolid
Diocese	Segovia (since 6th Century)

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption and of Saint Fructus is a large Roman Catholic church in Segovia, Spain. It is often called the Segovia Cathedral. This amazing building is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and to Saint Fructus. It is the main church for the Diocese of Segovia.

The cathedral was built in a style called Flamboyant Gothic. It was officially opened in 1768. This makes it one of the very last Gothic cathedrals ever built in Europe.

A Look at the Cathedral's History
- Why a New Cathedral Was Needed
- Building the New Cathedral
Exploring the Cathedral's Architecture
- Key Architectural Features
- Main Altar and Choir
Discovering the Cathedral's Chapels
Notable Burials Within the Cathedral
The Cathedral Museum
Images for kids
See Also

A Look at the Cathedral's History

The Cathedral, Segovia by William Strang.

The huge Segovia Cathedral was built between 1525 and 1577. It was designed in a late Gothic style. This style was actually a bit old-fashioned in other parts of Europe by then.

Why a New Cathedral Was Needed

The first cathedral in Segovia was right next to the Alcazar (a fortress). During a rebellion called the Comuneros Revolt, royal armies used the old cathedral to help defend the Alcazar. The rebels wanted to take the church. They hoped to use its holy items and its position near the fortress walls to defeat the defenders.

City officials tried to stop the rebels from attacking the church. They said it was wrong to destroy such a beautiful temple. But the rebels did not listen. They believed "the Church belonged to the City." After a long siege, the old cathedral was left in ruins.

Building the New Cathedral

Because of the fear of another attack, the new cathedral was built in a different spot. The design was created by a master builder named Juan Gil de Hontañón. His son, Rodrigo Gil de Hontañón, continued the work.

Exploring the Cathedral's Architecture

The Segovia Cathedral is known for its grand design. It has three tall sections called vaults and a walkway around the altar called an ambulatory.

Key Architectural Features

Windows: The cathedral features beautiful windows with detailed stone patterns. Many of these windows are filled with colorful stained glass.
Interior Style: Inside, the building has a very consistent late Gothic style. The only part that looks different is the dome. It was added later, around 1630, by Pedro de Brizuela.
Size: The Gothic vaults are very high, reaching 33 meters (about 108 feet). The entire building is 50 meters (about 164 feet) wide and 105 meters (about 344 feet) long.
Bell Tower: The bell tower stands almost 90 meters (about 295 feet) tall. The stone top you see today was built in 1614. This happened after a big fire, caused by a thunderstorm, destroyed the original wooden spire. The first spire was made of American mahogany and was the tallest tower in Spain.

Main Altar and Choir

The main altar piece, called the retablo mayor, was carved by Francisco Sabatini. It is dedicated to the Virgin of the Peace. It also features statues of Segovian Saints like Frutos, Geroteo, Valentín, and Engracia. The choir area has special Gothic seating.

Discovering the Cathedral's Chapels

The Segovia Cathedral has many chapels, each with its own unique art and history.

Important Chapels to See

Chapel of the Santísimo Sacramento: This chapel has a beautiful altar screen (reredo) made by José de Churriguera.
Chapel of San Andrés: Here you can find a special artwork called a Triptych of the Deposition by Ambrosius Benson.
Chapel of Piety: This chapel features the famous sculpture Entombment by Juan de Juni.
Chapel of the Deposition: You can see a sculpture of the reclining Christ by Gregorio Fernández here.

Chapels in the North Nave

Capilla de San Andrés Apóstol
Capilla de San Cosme y San Damián
Capilla de San Gregorio
Capilla de la Concepción

Chapels in the South Nave

Capilla del Cristo Yacente (Reclining Christ)
Capilla de Santa Bárbara
Capilla de Santiago Apóstol
Capilla del Cristo del Consuelo

Notable Burials Within the Cathedral

Several important people are buried inside the Segovia Cathedral.

Crescentius of Rome
Saint Fructus (died 715), and his siblings Saint Valentine (Valentín) and Saint Engratia (Engracia).

The Cathedral Museum

The museum inside the cathedral holds many valuable artworks. You can see pieces by artists like Pedro Berruguete, Sánchez Coello, and Van Orley. The cathedral's archives also keep a very special item: the first book ever printed in Spain, called the Synod of Aguilafuente (from 1472).