Church of Santa María la Mayor
Introduction
Highlights Route, Christian Monuments tour
The Church of Santa María la Mayor or La Encarnación stands as a great temple that stands out above all the buildings in Huéscar.
Built at the beginning of the 16th century in Renaissance style, although with later additions, it stands out for its large cathedral dimensions due to having belonged to the domain of the archbishopric of Toledo until the middle of the 20th century.
Declared one of the Seven Wonders of the province of Granada in 1973, it was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest. In 2009, it was named a Perpetual Jubilee Temple by Pope Benedict XVI, so that anyone who makes a pilgrimage to the Church of Santa María can obtain the Plenary Indulgence.
Church of Santa María la Mayor
History
Highlights Route, Christian Monuments tour
After the Christian conquest of Huéscar by the Catholic Monarchs in 1488, what until then had been the Great Mosque of the Alcazaba, was consecrated for Christian worship and began to be used as a church, until it was finally demolished and a church was built in its place and consecrated in 1498, with the name of the Church of Santa María de la Encarnación.
However, by the beginning of the 16th century, the Christian population had begun to grow and the buildings began to extend beyond the limits of the walls. For this reason, in 1501 it was decided to build a new church in Gothic style and with larger dimensions, named Santa María La Mayor, so that the church, located within the old Muslim city, became known as the church of Santiago, the local patron saint at that time.
Church of Santa María la Mayor
Architecture
Highlights Route, Christian Monuments tour
The construction of the church spanned two long centuries, from 1501 to 1765, during which time various styles were present in its architecture.
The works were undertaken under the guidance of artists of the stature of Jacobo Florentín, Enrique Egas, the architect Andrés de Vandelvira, the sculptor Alonso de Covarrubias and the architect and sculptor Diego de Siloé.
A monumental church was built with an apse and three naves of equal height, the central nave wider than the side naves, with vaulted ceilings throughout the body of the church (except for the apse, which is closed with a Siloesque shell); these vaults are supported by a network of arches decorated with enormous ovals and palmettes among other mouldings, resting on Siloesque pillars with a quadrangular base.
Church of Santa María la Mayor
Style
Highlights Route, Christian Monuments tour
The church began in the Gothic style, which is partly why it is so large. However, the predominant style was Renaissance with some later additions to the interior and exterior of the church.
The proposed project was not carried out in its entirety, as two towers were planned at the foot of the church, of which only the base of one of them (today the chapel of San Pedro) was built, proof of which are the ashlars that would serve as anchors for this tower and which can still be seen today from the outside of the church.
Church of Santa María la Mayor
Archbishopric of Toledo
Highlights Route, Christian Monuments tour
The monumentality of the collegiate church of Santa María has to do not only with the style and period from which it comes, but also with the fact that Huéscar belonged to the archbishopric of Toledo until 1954.
Since the conquest of the town, for strategic reasons, the dioceses of Guadix and Toledo have been pursuing the ecclesiastical dominion of what was the former diocese of Bastetana (Baza-Huéscar). After a long lawsuit, the church of Baza remained in the hands of Guadix for reasons of proximity, and that of Huéscar was granted to Toledo. For this reason, a large temple was built as a symbol of the power of the archbishopric of Toledo in such a distant and remote place.
Church of Santa María la Mayor
Jubilee Temple
Highlights Route, Christian Monuments tour
One of the most important and recent events related to the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore took place in 2009. It is its spiritual union with the Papal Basilica of Santa María la Mayor in Rome, the first temple in the world dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
Santa María la Mayor is thus the first temple of the Diocese of Guadix to be affiliated to a Pontifical Basilica. It was named a Perpetual Jubilee Temple by Pope Benedict XVI and therefore, anyone who makes a pilgrimage to the Church of Santa María La Mayor can obtain the Plenary Indulgence.
Church of Santa María la Mayor
Introduction
Highlights Route, Christian Monuments tour
The Church of Santa María la Mayor or La Encarnación stands as a great temple that stands out above all the buildings in Huéscar.
Built at the beginning of the 16th century in Renaissance style, although with later additions, it stands out for its large cathedral dimensions due to having belonged to the domain of the archbishopric of Toledo until the middle of the 20th century.
Declared one of the Seven Wonders of the province of Granada in 1973, it was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest. In 2009, it was named a Perpetual Jubilee Temple by Pope Benedict XVI, so that anyone who makes a pilgrimage to the Church of Santa María can obtain the Plenary Indulgence.
Church of Santa María la Mayor
History
Highlights Route, Christian Monuments tour
After the Christian conquest of Huéscar by the Catholic Monarchs in 1488, what until then had been the Great Mosque of the Alcazaba, was consecrated for Christian worship and began to be used as a church, until it was finally demolished and a church was built in its place and consecrated in 1498, with the name of the Church of Santa María de la Encarnación.
However, by the beginning of the 16th century, the Christian population had begun to grow and the buildings began to extend beyond the limits of the walls. For this reason, in 1501 it was decided to build a new church in Gothic style and with larger dimensions, named Santa María La Mayor, so that the church, located within the old Muslim city, became known as the church of Santiago, the local patron saint at that time.
Church of Santa María la Mayor
Architecture
Highlights Route, Christian Monuments tour
The construction of the church spanned two long centuries, from 1501 to 1765, during which time various styles were present in its architecture.
The works were undertaken under the guidance of artists of the stature of Jacobo Florentín, Enrique Egas, the architect Andrés de Vandelvira, the sculptor Alonso de Covarrubias and the architect and sculptor Diego de Siloé.
A monumental church was built with an apse and three naves of equal height, the central nave wider than the side naves, with vaulted ceilings throughout the body of the church (except for the apse, which is closed with a Siloesque shell); these vaults are supported by a network of arches decorated with enormous ovals and palmettes among other mouldings, resting on Siloesque pillars with a quadrangular base.
Church of Santa María la Mayor
Style
Highlights Route, Christian Monuments tour
The church began in the Gothic style, which is partly why it is so large. However, the predominant style was Renaissance with some later additions to the interior and exterior of the church.
The proposed project was not carried out in its entirety, as two towers were planned at the foot of the church, of which only the base of one of them (today the chapel of San Pedro) was built, proof of which are the ashlars that would serve as anchors for this tower and which can still be seen today from the outside of the church.
Church of Santa María la Mayor
Archbishopric of Toledo
Highlights Route, Christian Monuments tour
The monumentality of the collegiate church of Santa María has to do not only with the style and period from which it comes, but also with the fact that Huéscar belonged to the archbishopric of Toledo until 1954.
Since the conquest of the town, for strategic reasons, the dioceses of Guadix and Toledo have been pursuing the ecclesiastical dominion of what was the former diocese of Bastetana (Baza-Huéscar). After a long lawsuit, the church of Baza remained in the hands of Guadix for reasons of proximity, and that of Huéscar was granted to Toledo. For this reason, a large temple was built as a symbol of the power of the archbishopric of Toledo in such a distant and remote place.
Church of Santa María la Mayor
Jubilee Temple
Highlights Route, Christian Monuments tour
One of the most important and recent events related to the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore took place in 2009. It is its spiritual union with the Papal Basilica of Santa María la Mayor in Rome, the first temple in the world dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
Santa María la Mayor is thus the first temple of the Diocese of Guadix to be affiliated to a Pontifical Basilica. It was named a Perpetual Jubilee Temple by Pope Benedict XVI and therefore, anyone who makes a pilgrimage to the Church of Santa María La Mayor can obtain the Plenary Indulgence.