Teruel Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of Saint Mary of Mediavilla of Teruel |
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Catedral de Santa María de Mediavilla de Teruel
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic Church |
| Year consecrated | 1587 |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Location | |
| Location | Teruel, Spain |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Mudéjar, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance |
| Groundbreaking | 1171 |
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
| Official name | Tower, roof and dome of the Cathedral of Saint Mary of Mediavilla |
| Part of | Mudéjar Architecture of Aragon |
| Criteria | Cultural: (iv) |
| Inscription | 1986 (10th Session) |
| Extensions | 2001, 2016 |
| Type: | Non-movable |
| Criteria: | Monument |
| Designated: | 3 June 1931 |
| Reference #: | RI-51-0000925 |
The Teruel Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of Saint Mary of Mediavilla, is a beautiful Roman Catholic church in Teruel, Aragon, Spain. It is dedicated to Saint Mary. This cathedral is a fantastic example of Mudéjar architecture. Mudéjar is a special style that mixes Christian and Islamic art.
This cathedral, along with other churches in the area, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986. This means it is considered very important to the world's history and culture.
Contents
A Look at the Cathedral's History
The Teruel Cathedral started as a church called Santa María de Mediavilla. Building began in 1171 in the Romanesque style. This style uses round arches and thick walls. The famous Mudéjar tower was finished in 1257.
In the late 1200s, a skilled builder named Juzaff, who was a Morisco (a Muslim who converted to Christianity), changed the old Romanesque church. He added three Mudéjar naves. Naves are the main parts of a church where people sit. These new parts were made of masonry (stone or brick work) and brick.
Changes and Upgrades Over Time
The original Romanesque apses (curved ends of the church) were replaced in the 1300s. This new style was a mix of Gothic and Mudéjar. The church became brighter and more spacious. In 1423, a religious leader named Antipope Benedict XIII made it a collegiate church. This means it was an important church with a group of priests.
In 1538, a new lantern tower was built over the central nave. This tower was designed in the Plateresque-Mudéjar style. Plateresque is a fancy Spanish Renaissance style. This tower has eight sides and special windows. In 1587, the church became a full Cathedral when the diocese of Teruel was created. The last big change was in 1909. A new front (facade) was built in the Neo-Mudéjar style.
Exploring the Mudéjar Tower
The Mudéjar tower started being built in 1257. The bottom part of the tower has a barrel vault (a rounded ceiling). People can walk through it. This tower is one of the oldest Mudéjar towers in Spain.
It has a square shape. Its three sides are beautifully decorated with azulejos. These are colorful glazed tiles. The very top of the tower has an octagonal (eight-sided) roof lantern from the 1600s.
The Mudéjar Renovation Project
After the tower was finished, more changes happened in the late 1200s. The Moorish master builder Juzaff led these changes. He made the naves taller, like in Gothic churches. He also built new Mudéjar apses and added Mudéjar ceilings.
The first part of the church was built from the apses towards the tower. Now, the renovations went the other way. Once the naves were taller and brighter, the old front part looked too small. So, a crossing (where the nave meets the transept) and three new apses were built. These works were finished in 1335. A master from Coglor, Yuçaf de Huzmel, directed the final plastering and painting.
Most Mudéjar ceilings are just for decoration. But this one is different. It's a real roof that supports the upper part of the nave. It also makes the whole building stronger. People call it the "Sistine Chapel" of Mudéjar art. This is because it's so valuable for its design and paintings.
The ceiling is 32 meters long and dates back to the 1300s. It has many small sections called coffers. These coffers are painted with pictures of workers, artists, historical figures, and even fantasy creatures. The paintings are very well preserved. This is because they were covered by a false ceiling in the 1700s. This covering protected them from bad weather.
The ceiling had some damage during the Spanish Civil War. But it was carefully repaired.
The Lantern Tower's Design
The lantern tower was designed in 1537 by Juan Lucas "Botero." He was also the architect for similar towers at the Seo of Zaragoza and the Cathedral of Tarazona. The building of the tower was completed in 1538 by Martín de Montalbán.
This lantern tower was built to light up the new main altarpiece. An altarpiece is a large artwork behind the altar. This one was a Renaissance masterpiece made by the sculptor Gabriel Yoly in 1536.
Recent Building Work
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Around the year 1700, the Gothic front part of the church was changed. An ambulatory was added. An ambulatory is a walkway around the altar. The decorations were also updated to fit the Neoclassical style.
This is when the original Mudéjar roof was hidden by a false ceiling. This actually helped to save the old paintings.
In 1909, a huge southern facade was built. It mixes a Neo-Romanesque style with Neo-Mudéjar decorations. It was designed by the architect Pau Monguió. The entrance has an iron gate made by Matías Abad. This gate was inspired by the choir inside the cathedral.
A World Heritage Site
The tower, roof, and lantern tower of Teruel Cathedral are very special. They were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986. This was done along with other Mudéjar buildings in the city.
UNESCO explained why these buildings are so important. Mudéjar art grew in Aragon in the 1100s. This happened because of the unique mix of cultures in Spain after the Reconquista. This art style was influenced by Islamic traditions. But it also showed European styles, especially Gothic. Mudéjar art was used until the early 1600s. It is known for its clever use of brick and glazed tiles in buildings, especially in bell towers.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Teruel para niños
- Catholic Church in Spain
- Mudéjar Architecture of Aragon
- History of medieval Arabic and Western European domes
