Teruel Cathedral

Cathedral of Saint Mary of Teruel
Catedral de Santa María de Teruel
Basic information
Location Teruel, Aragon, Spain
Geographic coordinates 40°20′38″N 01°06′26″W / 40.34389°N 1.10722°W / 40.34389; -1.10722Coordinates: 40°20′38″N 01°06′26″W / 40.34389°N 1.10722°W / 40.34389; -1.10722
Affiliation Roman Catholic Church
Country Spain
Year consecrated 1587
Status cathedral
Architectural description
Architectural type church
Architectural style Mudéjar, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance
Groundbreaking 1171
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Criteria Cultural: (iv)
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Reference 378
Inscription 1986 (10th Session)
Extensions 2001, 2016
Endangered –

The Teruel Cathedral is a Roman Catholic 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.

History

Tower of the Cathedral.

The cathedral traces its origins to the foundation of the town by Alfonso II of Aragon, who ordered the construction of a church, entitled to St. Mary de Mediavilla, in Romanesque architectural 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 and 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 glaze. At the top is an octagonal lantern from the 18th century.

The ceiling of the nave, dating to the 14th century, features notable decorated coffers, 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.

See also

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