Interior. Church of Santa María la Mayor
Introduction
Highlights Route, Christian Monuments tour
Inside the Church of Santa María, you can appreciate the different architectural styles that characterise it.
The vestiges of the Elizabethan Gothic style in which this marvellous temple was to be built can still be seen next to the main altar. However, it is the Renaissance style, which is shown in its main architectural elements, that definitely predominates in the construction.
The choir, however, is in the Baroque style, is located in the rear half of the church, and is one of the most valuable treasures preserved in the temple.
Interior. Church of Santa María la Mayor
Styles
Highlights Route, Christian Monuments tour
The construction of the Church of Santa María lasted more than two centuries, and its works were carried out in phases by the most brilliant architects.
The first of these, the Gothic phase (1501-1516) was under the guidelines of Enrique Egas and Jacobo Florentin, in which the chancel was developed, with the "Sacristía Vieja" doorway in the Elizabethan style standing out.
After this intervention, a brief Plateresque phase (1530-1536) was carried out by Alfonso de Covarrubias and Diego de Siloé and executed by Andrés de Vandelvira, which affected the entire exterior.
This was followed by the Renaissance phase (1540-1557), predominant throughout the church, in which the interior height was lowered by building new vaults under the existing roof.
Interior. Church of Santa María la Mayor
Last stage
Highlights Route, Christian Monuments tour
Its last stage (1625-1765), with Baroque additions, mainly affected the bell tower, which was placed above the chancel and not at the foot of the church as planned, and the decoration of the altars and choir. All the interventions after 1765 have been destined to decorations or slight transformations in neoclassical style.
After the terrible events of the Civil War, in which all the altars were lost, work began on the conservation and recovery of everything that had been saved.
The image shows the Baroque altarpiece by Díaz de Rivero before it was destroyed during the Civil War.
Interior. Church of Santa María la Mayor
Concord Grille
Highlights Route, Christian Monuments tour
La Reja de la Concordia or Hornacina de la Concordia, located above the chapel of the Sagrario, was ordered to be built in 1556 by the City Council as if it were a coat of arms, this niche was responsible for guarding the agreement between the people and the Duke of Alba not to submit to the arbitrariness of the latter.
In the lower part, there is a devil's head as a symbol of the forbidden, something that cannot be touched and which represents that, for there to be harmony, there must first be discord, and that is exactly what happened in Huéscar.
Interior. Church of Santa María la Mayor
Choir
Highlights Route, Christian Monuments tour
The choir of the church of Santa María is one of the greatest jewels that Huéscar possesses. Made in 1727 by Jerónimo Caballero from Huesca, the choir stalls are made of walnut wood and consist of 29 upper and 23 lower chairs. The episcopal chair is presided over by Saint Ildefonso, archbishop of Toledo, accompanied on the sides by Saint Peter and Saint Paul, and in the corners of the choir there is a representation of the Saints, Alodía and Nunilón.
The predominant decorative elements are plant motifs and some figurative representations of distinctive episodes. In addition, under some of the seats, the misericordias, anthropomorphic beings that served as a point of support when standing, are still preserved.
Interior. Church of Santa María la Mayor
The Saints
Highlights Route, Christian Monuments tour
Saints Alodía and Nunilón, patron saints of Huéscar, were two sisters born in Adahuesca (Aragón), to a Muslim father and a Christian mother who were educated by their mother in the Christian faith. When both died, they were taken in by uncles who forced them to profess the Muslim faith, but when they refused to convert to Islam, they were condemned to death and beheaded on 21 October 851. Their remains are in the Monastery of Leyre (Navarre) and are considered martyrs for dying in defence of Christianity.
This devotion to the Holy Martyrs was brought to Huéscar by Leonor de Aragón, wife of the Count of Lerín and sister of King Ferdinand the Catholic. Doña Leonor had great devotion to them and brought this tradition, which is still alive today, to the town.
Interior. Church of Santa María la Mayor
Introduction
Highlights Route, Christian Monuments tour
Inside the Church of Santa María, you can appreciate the different architectural styles that characterise it.
The vestiges of the Elizabethan Gothic style in which this marvellous temple was to be built can still be seen next to the main altar. However, it is the Renaissance style, which is shown in its main architectural elements, that definitely predominates in the construction.
The choir, however, is in the Baroque style, is located in the rear half of the church, and is one of the most valuable treasures preserved in the temple.
Interior. Church of Santa María la Mayor
Styles
Highlights Route, Christian Monuments tour
The construction of the Church of Santa María lasted more than two centuries, and its works were carried out in phases by the most brilliant architects.
The first of these, the Gothic phase (1501-1516) was under the guidelines of Enrique Egas and Jacobo Florentin, in which the chancel was developed, with the "Sacristía Vieja" doorway in the Elizabethan style standing out.
After this intervention, a brief Plateresque phase (1530-1536) was carried out by Alfonso de Covarrubias and Diego de Siloé and executed by Andrés de Vandelvira, which affected the entire exterior.
This was followed by the Renaissance phase (1540-1557), predominant throughout the church, in which the interior height was lowered by building new vaults under the existing roof.
Interior. Church of Santa María la Mayor
Last stage
Highlights Route, Christian Monuments tour
Its last stage (1625-1765), with Baroque additions, mainly affected the bell tower, which was placed above the chancel and not at the foot of the church as planned, and the decoration of the altars and choir. All the interventions after 1765 have been destined to decorations or slight transformations in neoclassical style.
After the terrible events of the Civil War, in which all the altars were lost, work began on the conservation and recovery of everything that had been saved.
The image shows the Baroque altarpiece by Díaz de Rivero before it was destroyed during the Civil War.
Interior. Church of Santa María la Mayor
Concord Grille
Highlights Route, Christian Monuments tour
La Reja de la Concordia or Hornacina de la Concordia, located above the chapel of the Sagrario, was ordered to be built in 1556 by the City Council as if it were a coat of arms, this niche was responsible for guarding the agreement between the people and the Duke of Alba not to submit to the arbitrariness of the latter.
In the lower part, there is a devil's head as a symbol of the forbidden, something that cannot be touched and which represents that, for there to be harmony, there must first be discord, and that is exactly what happened in Huéscar.
Interior. Church of Santa María la Mayor
Choir
Highlights Route, Christian Monuments tour
The choir of the church of Santa María is one of the greatest jewels that Huéscar possesses. Made in 1727 by Jerónimo Caballero from Huesca, the choir stalls are made of walnut wood and consist of 29 upper and 23 lower chairs. The episcopal chair is presided over by Saint Ildefonso, archbishop of Toledo, accompanied on the sides by Saint Peter and Saint Paul, and in the corners of the choir there is a representation of the Saints, Alodía and Nunilón.
The predominant decorative elements are plant motifs and some figurative representations of distinctive episodes. In addition, under some of the seats, the misericordias, anthropomorphic beings that served as a point of support when standing, are still preserved.
Interior. Church of Santa María la Mayor
The Saints
Highlights Route, Christian Monuments tour
Saints Alodía and Nunilón, patron saints of Huéscar, were two sisters born in Adahuesca (Aragón), to a Muslim father and a Christian mother who were educated by their mother in the Christian faith. When both died, they were taken in by uncles who forced them to profess the Muslim faith, but when they refused to convert to Islam, they were condemned to death and beheaded on 21 October 851. Their remains are in the Monastery of Leyre (Navarre) and are considered martyrs for dying in defence of Christianity.
This devotion to the Holy Martyrs was brought to Huéscar by Leonor de Aragón, wife of the Count of Lerín and sister of King Ferdinand the Catholic. Doña Leonor had great devotion to them and brought this tradition, which is still alive today, to the town.