Badajoz Cathedral
Encyclopedia
The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist of Badajoz is a Roman Catholic cathedral
church in Badajoz
, Extremadura
, western Spain
. Since 1994, together with the Co-cathedral of Saint Mary Major of Mérida
, it is the seat of the Archdiocese of Mérida-Badajoz.
, the new bishop Padro Pérez initially adapted the former mosque in the Badajoz Alcazaba (citadel) as a cathedral. A new cathedral was not begun until the mid-13th century. The site chosen was that of a pre-existing Visigothic and Mozarabic church in the Campo de San Juan, situated outside the citadel.
In 1270, though the construction was not finished, the new cathedral was consecrated and dedicated to St. John the Baptist. The work on the building lasted until the 15th century, and were followed by some modifications and renovations in the 16th-17th centuries.
The church was declared a national historical monument in 1931. On July 28, 1994, Pope John Paul II
established the Archdiocese of Mérida-Badajoz, making the Church of Saint John Baptist his metropolitan cathedral.
The church itself has a simple rectangular main façade with one marble portal, built in 1619. The portalis flanked by two Ionic columns and is surmounted by a niche with a statue of St. John the Baptist. The portal of St. Blaise, on the southern side, is most likely the oldest one: it is flanked by two pilasters and features a small image of the saint to which it is entitled. All the walls, and the tower as well, feature Gothic merlons. The interior, in the late Gothic style, has a nave and two aisles, side chapels, a high altar (with a highly decorated Baroque retablo
) and a choir with Plateresque
stalls and a Baroque organ.
The cloister is in Manueline Portuguese
style.
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
church in Badajoz
Badajoz
Badajoz is the capital of the Province of Badajoz in the autonomous community of Extremadura, Spain, situated close to the Portuguese border, on the left bank of the river Guadiana, and the Madrid–Lisbon railway. The population in 2007 was 145,257....
, Extremadura
Extremadura
Extremadura is an autonomous community of western Spain whose capital city is Mérida. Its component provinces are Cáceres and Badajoz. It is bordered by Portugal to the west...
, western Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Since 1994, together with the Co-cathedral of Saint Mary Major of Mérida
Co-cathedral of Saint Mary Major of Mérida
The Metropolitan co-cathedral of Saint Mary Major of Mérida is a Roman Catholic cathedral church in Mérida, Extremadura, western Spain. Since 1994, together with the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist of Badajoz, it is the seat of the Archdiocese of Mérida-Badajoz.- History :Mérida...
, it is the seat of the Archdiocese of Mérida-Badajoz.
History
After the conquest of Badajoz in 1230 by King Alfonso IX of LeónAlfonso IX of Leon
Alfonso IX was king of León and Galicia from the death of his father Ferdinand II in 1188 until his own death...
, the new bishop Padro Pérez initially adapted the former mosque in the Badajoz Alcazaba (citadel) as a cathedral. A new cathedral was not begun until the mid-13th century. The site chosen was that of a pre-existing Visigothic and Mozarabic church in the Campo de San Juan, situated outside the citadel.
In 1270, though the construction was not finished, the new cathedral was consecrated and dedicated to St. John the Baptist. The work on the building lasted until the 15th century, and were followed by some modifications and renovations in the 16th-17th centuries.
The church was declared a national historical monument in 1931. On July 28, 1994, Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
established the Archdiocese of Mérida-Badajoz, making the Church of Saint John Baptist his metropolitan cathedral.
Description
Due to its position outside the citadel, the church has a fortress-like appearance, with strong walls and bastions, and a sturdy square tower. The tower measures 11 meters on each side and 14 meters in height, and consists in four sections, the top one housing the bells. The original design included two of such towers.The church itself has a simple rectangular main façade with one marble portal, built in 1619. The portalis flanked by two Ionic columns and is surmounted by a niche with a statue of St. John the Baptist. The portal of St. Blaise, on the southern side, is most likely the oldest one: it is flanked by two pilasters and features a small image of the saint to which it is entitled. All the walls, and the tower as well, feature Gothic merlons. The interior, in the late Gothic style, has a nave and two aisles, side chapels, a high altar (with a highly decorated Baroque retablo
Retablo
A Retablo or lamina is a Latin American devotional painting, especially a small popular or folk art one using iconography derived from traditional Catholic church art....
) and a choir with Plateresque
Plateresque
Plateresque, meaning "in the manner of a silversmith" , was an artistic movement, especially architectural, traditionally held to be exclusive to Spain and its territories, which appeared between the late Gothic and early Renaissance in the late 15th century, and spread over the next two centuries...
stalls and a Baroque organ.
The cloister is in Manueline Portuguese
Manueline
The Manueline, or Portuguese late Gothic, is the sumptuous, composite Portuguese style of architectural ornamentation of the first decades of the 16th century, incorporating maritime elements and representations of the discoveries brought from the voyages of Vasco da Gama and Pedro Álvares Cabral...
style.