Teruel Cathedral
Encyclopedia
The Cathedral of Teruel is a church in Teruel
, Aragon
, Spain
. Entitled to St. Mary, it is a notable example of Mudéjar
architecture. Together with other churches in the town and in the province of Zaragoza, is listed in the UNESCO Heritage site Mudéjar Architecture of Aragon
since 1986.
, who ordered the construction of a church, entitled to St. Mary de Mediavilla, in Romanesque
style. In the late 13th century, the morisco
architect Juzaff restructured it, rising the nave and the two aisles, and giving them a Mudéjar appearance. The Mudéjar bell tower was finished in 1257. The Romanesques apses where replaced by Gothic-Mudéjar ones in the 14th century.
In 1423 Pope Benedict XII, of Aragonese origins, elevated it to the rank of collegiate. In 1538 was built the dome
in the nave, a work of Martín de Montalbán. It has an octagonal plan with, on the external side, double mullioned windows with Plateresque
decorations. In 1587, with the creation of the diocese of Teruel, the church was promoted to the cathedral role e reconsecrated.
The façade, in neo-Mudéjar style, was finished in 1909.
. At the top is a octagonal lantern from the 18th century.
The ceiling of the nave, dating to the 14th century, features notable decorated coffer
s, with historical, religious, human and animal figures in Gothic style.
Also notable is the high altar dedicated to the Assumption, an example of the Aragonese Renaissance.
Teruel
Teruel is a town in Aragon, eastern Spain, and the capital of Teruel Province. It has a population of 34,240 in 2006 making it one of the least populated provincial capitals in the country...
, Aragon
Aragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
, 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...
. Entitled to St. Mary, it is a notable example of Mudéjar
Mudéjar
Mudéjar is the name given to individual Moors or Muslims of Al-Andalus who remained in Iberia after the Christian Reconquista but were not converted to Christianity...
architecture. Together with other churches in the town and in the province of Zaragoza, is listed in the UNESCO Heritage site Mudéjar Architecture of Aragon
Mudéjar Architecture of Aragon
Mudéjar Architecture of Aragon is an aesthetic trend in the Mudéjar style, which is centered in Aragon and has been recognized in some representative buildings as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO....
since 1986.
History
The cathedral traces its origins to the foundation of the town by Alfonso II of AragonAlfonso II of Aragon
Alfonso II or Alfons I ; Huesca, 1-25 March 1157 – 25 April 1196), called the Chaste or the Troubadour, was the King of Aragon and Count of Barcelona from 1164 until his death. He was the son of Ramon Berenguer IV of Barcelona and Petronilla of Aragon and the first King of Aragon who was...
, who ordered the construction of a church, entitled to St. Mary de Mediavilla, 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. In the late 13th century, the morisco
Morisco
Moriscos or Mouriscos , meaning "Moorish", were the converted Christian inhabitants of Spain and Portugal of Muslim heritage. Over time the term was used in a pejorative sense applied to those nominal Catholics who were suspected of secretly practicing Islam.-Demographics:By the beginning of the...
architect Juzaff restructured it, rising the nave and the two aisles, and giving them a Mudéjar appearance. The Mudéjar bell tower was finished in 1257. The Romanesques apses where replaced by Gothic-Mudéjar ones in the 14th century.
In 1423 Pope Benedict XII, of Aragonese origins, elevated it to the rank of collegiate. In 1538 was built the dome
Dome
A dome is a structural element of architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. Dome structures made of various materials have a long architectural lineage extending into prehistory....
in the nave, a work of Martín de Montalbán. It has an octagonal plan with, on the external side, double mullioned windows 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...
decorations. In 1587, with the creation of the diocese of Teruel, the church was promoted to the cathedral role e reconsecrated.
The façade, in neo-Mudéjar style, was finished in 1909.
Overview
The bell tower is one of the best preserved Mudéjar towers in Spain. It has a square plan and three floors, decorated with azulejos and ceramic glazeCeramic glaze
Glaze is a layer or coating of a vitreous substance which has been fired to fuse to a ceramic object to color, decorate, strengthen or waterproof it.-Use:...
. At the top is a octagonal lantern from the 18th century.
The ceiling of the nave, dating to the 14th century, features notable decorated coffer
Coffer
A coffer in architecture, is a sunken panel in the shape of a square, rectangle, or octagon in a ceiling, soffit or vault...
s, with historical, religious, human and animal figures in Gothic style.
Also notable is the high altar dedicated to the Assumption, an example of the Aragonese Renaissance.