Tudela Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tudela Cathedral |
|
|---|---|
| Co-Cathedral of Saint Mary of Tudela | |
|
Spanish: Catedral de Tudela
|
|
The cathedral viewed from the cloister
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Country | Spain |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Monumento |
| Designated | 1884 |
| Architectural type | church |
| Style | Romanesque, Gothic |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Pamplona and Tudela |
The Co-Cathedral of Saint Mary of Tudela is a beautiful old Roman Catholic church in Tudela, Navarre, Spain. It is located in the city center. This amazing building was first built as a collegiate church, which is a church run by a group of priests called a college or chapter. Later, it became a cathedral, meaning it was the main church for a bishop. Today, it shares this role as a co-cathedral with another church in the Archdiocese of Pamplona and Tudela.
Contents
A Long History
Tudela was once controlled by Muslims. In 1119, Christian forces led by Alfonso the Battler took over the city. After this, Muslims were asked to live in a special area outside the city walls. The city's main mosque, a Muslim place of worship, was then given to the church. This site was chosen to build a new church. Before the mosque, there had been an even older church dedicated to Santa María la Blanca on the same spot. Building of the new collegiate church began in 1168.
Architectural Styles and Features
The church was first built in the Romanesque style. This style is known for its thick walls, round arches, and strong, simple shapes. One of the most amazing parts of the church is its three Romanesque doorways. These doorways have very detailed sculptures carved into them.
The North door is called the Portal de Santa Maria. The South door is known as the Portal del Juicio, or "Portal of the Last Judgement." What makes this door special is that much of its carved space shows scenes of the difficult punishments in Hell.
Later, the main part of the church, called the nave, and its chapels were rebuilt in the Gothic style. Gothic architecture is famous for its tall, pointed arches, large stained-glass windows, and flying buttresses. The construction of the church continued into the 13th century.
Inside the Church
The main chapel inside the church has a beautiful retablo, which is a large, decorated screen behind the altar. This retablo was made by artists in the 1400s. It has 18 panels that show scenes from the Life of Jesus and Mary, along with pictures of prophets and apostles. A sculpture of the Assumption of the Virgin was added in 1606 by an artist named Juan Bascardo.
The central choir, where the church's singers sit, was finished by Esteban de Obray in the Gothic style. The large organ, which makes music for services, was built in 1759 by Lucas de Tarazona.
Protecting This Historic Site
In 1884, the collegiate church was officially named a national monument. This means it is a very important historical building that is protected by the government.
If you want to visit, guided tours are offered for tourists. These tours happen at times when there are no church services taking place. This helps protect the building and allows visitors to learn about its history.
See also
- Catholic Church in Spain
