Tortosa Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of Saint Mary |
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The cathedral in the midst of the old city
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| District | Tortosa |
| Year consecrated | 1447 |
| Location | |
| Location | Tortosa, Catalonia |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Cathedral |
| Architectural style | Gothic and Baroque |
| Groundbreaking | 1347 |
| Completed | 1757 |
The Cathedral of Saint Mary is a very old and important church in Tortosa, a city in Catalonia, Spain. It is the main church for the Diocese of Tortosa, which is a large area managed by the Catholic Church. You can find this amazing building right in the middle of Tortosa's old town.
Contents
Building the Cathedral: A Long Journey
The building of the current Cathedral of Saint Mary started in 1347. It was built on top of an even older church from the Romanesque period. It took over 400 years to finish the cathedral, with work finally completed in 1757!
Who Designed It?
The main design for the cathedral was created by an architect named Benito Dalguayre. He planned a large church with three main aisles, called naves. These naves have smaller chapels built between the strong support walls, known as buttresses. There is also a special curved walkway behind the main altar, called an ambulatory, with more chapels branching off it.
Architectural Styles: Gothic and Baroque
The main part of the church is built in the Gothic style, which was popular in Catalonia. Gothic buildings often have tall, pointed arches and large windows. However, the front of the cathedral, called the façade, was added much later in the 18th century. This part is built in the Baroque style, which is known for being very grand and decorative.
A Site with Ancient Roots
Archaeologists have dug up the area around the cathedral. They found out that the Romanesque church, which came before the current cathedral, was built on a very old Roman site. This spot was once the Roman forum of Tortosa, which was like the main public square in ancient Roman times. This shows how important this location has been for thousands of years!
Images for kids
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This picture shows the layout of the cathedral.
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The front of the cathedral, built in the Baroque style.
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Looking down the main aisle towards the altar inside the cathedral.
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A view of the back of the cathedral and its curved walkway from the castle.
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Until 2015, other buildings surrounded the cathedral.
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The cathedral in 2022, near the Ebro River.
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The quiet cloister, a courtyard within the cathedral complex.
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The fancy Baroque entrance to the cloister.
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A beautiful window in the cloister area.
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A plaque from the 13th century found inside the cathedral.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Tortosa para niños
