Lugo Cathedral
Encyclopedia
Saint Mary's Cathedral , better known as Lugo Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral and basilica
in Lugo
, Galicia, north-western Spain
, built starting from the early 12th century. Begun in Romanesque
style, during its costruction it received Gothic
, Baroque
and Neoclassicist elements.
Later renovations and restorations added elements in other styles, such as the Renaissance retablo
at the high altar, destroyed in the 1755 Lisbon earthquake
, and of which today fragments are housed in the church.
The cathedral received from the Pope the privilege to permanently expose the Holy Sacrament.
, and two aisles, with an ambulatory and five apse chapels. The triforium
features triple ogival mullioned windows. The apse houses a calvary sculpture
from an unknown date.
The façade is a Renaissance design by Julián Sánchez Bort, inspired to that proposed by Ventura Rodríguez
for the Cathedral of Pamplona
. Its construction was finished in the late 19th century, with the completion of the two side towers.
The northern entrance's narthex
is in Gothic style, dating to 1510-1530. Internally showing a starred vault, it is formed by three archivolt
s with a lintel showing Christ Pantocrator
and with a pinjante (glove-shaped decorative pendant), the latter featuring a depiction of the last supper of Christ.
Right to the entrance is the Gothic Torre Vella (bell tower), surmounted by a Renaissance top floor finished by Gaspar de Arce in 1580. The sacristy (1678) and the cloister (1714) are in Baroque style, as well as the central chapel of the triforium (1726). The chapel of St. Froilán is in Renaissance style, dating to the 17th century. Notable is the choir, built by Francisco de Moure (early 17th century)
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
in Lugo
Lugo
Lugo is a city in northwestern Spain, in the autonomous community of Galicia. It is the capital of the province of Lugo. The municipality had a population of 97,635 in 2010, which makes is the fourth most populated city in Galicia.-Population:...
, Galicia, north-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...
, built starting from the early 12th century. Begun in Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
style, during its costruction it received Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
, Baroque
Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture is a term used to describe the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and...
and Neoclassicist elements.
History
A first church existed in the site from 755, but in the early 12th century its conditions were such that Bishop Peter III, in 1129, commissioned the local master Raimundo a new edifice in the current architectonical style. This Romanesque structure was completed in 1273.Later renovations and restorations added elements in other styles, such as the Renaissance 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....
at the high altar, destroyed in the 1755 Lisbon earthquake
1755 Lisbon earthquake
The 1755 Lisbon earthquake, also known as the Great Lisbon Earthquake, was a megathrust earthquake that took place on Saturday 1 November 1755, at around 9:40 in the morning. The earthquake was followed by fires and a tsunami, which almost totally destroyed Lisbon in the Kingdom of Portugal, and...
, and of which today fragments are housed in the church.
The cathedral received from the Pope the privilege to permanently expose the Holy Sacrament.
Structure
The cathedral is on the Latin cross plan, with a length of 85 m. It has a nave, covered by a barrel vaultBarrel vault
A barrel vault, also known as a tunnel vault or a wagon vault, is an architectural element formed by the extrusion of a single curve along a given distance. The curves are typically circular in shape, lending a semi-cylindrical appearance to the total design...
, and two aisles, with an ambulatory and five apse chapels. The triforium
Triforium
A triforium is a shallow arched gallery within the thickness of inner wall, which stands above the nave of a church or cathedral. It may occur at the level of the clerestory windows, or it may be located as a separate level below the clerestory. It may itself have an outer wall of glass rather than...
features triple ogival mullioned windows. The apse houses a calvary sculpture
Calvary (sculpture)
A calvary is a type of monumental public crucifix, sometimes encased in an open shrine, most commonly found across northern France from Brittany east and through Belgium and equally familiar as wayside structures provided with minimal sheltering roofs in Italy and Spain...
from an unknown date.
The façade is a Renaissance design by Julián Sánchez Bort, inspired to that proposed by Ventura Rodríguez
Ventura Rodríguez
Ventura Rodríguez Tizón was a Spanish architect and artist. Born at Ciempozuelos, Rodríguez was the son of a bricklayer. In 1727, he collaborated with his father in the work at the Royal Palace of Aranjuez.-Major works:...
for the Cathedral of Pamplona
Cathedral of Pamplona
The Cathedral of Royal Saint Mary is the Roman Catholic cathedral of the archdiocese of Pamplona, Spain. The current 15th century Gothic temple replaced an older Romanesque one. Archaeological excavations have revealed the existence of other two previous churches. The Neoclassical façade was...
. Its construction was finished in the late 19th century, with the completion of the two side towers.
The northern entrance's narthex
Narthex
The narthex of a church is the entrance or lobby area, located at the end of the nave, at the far end from the church's main altar. Traditionally the narthex was a part of the church building, but was not considered part of the church proper...
is in Gothic style, dating to 1510-1530. Internally showing a starred vault, it is formed by three archivolt
Archivolt
An archivolt is an ornamental molding or band following the curve on the underside of an arch. It is composed of bands of ornamental moldings surrounding an arched opening, corresponding to the architrave in the case of a rectangular opening...
s with a lintel showing Christ Pantocrator
Christ Pantocrator
In Christian iconography, Christ Pantokrator refers to a specific depiction of Christ. Pantocrator or Pantokrator is a translation of one of many Names of God in Judaism...
and with a pinjante (glove-shaped decorative pendant), the latter featuring a depiction of the last supper of Christ.
Right to the entrance is the Gothic Torre Vella (bell tower), surmounted by a Renaissance top floor finished by Gaspar de Arce in 1580. The sacristy (1678) and the cloister (1714) are in Baroque style, as well as the central chapel of the triforium (1726). The chapel of St. Froilán is in Renaissance style, dating to the 17th century. Notable is the choir, built by Francisco de Moure (early 17th century)