Huesca Cathedral
Encyclopedia
The Holy Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Lord, also known as the Cathedral of Saint Mary Huesca, is a church in Huesca
, north-eastern Spain. It is the seat of the Bishop of Huesca. Its architecture is Gothic
, and its construction began in the late 13th century and was finished in the early 16th century.
( 1213 - 1276), which is rather late when compared to other churches in the area, which date back to the Romanesque
period . This is due to the fact that in Huesca
, Christian worship took place for almost two centuries in the mosque building, until the late thirteenth century . As the newly consecrated bishop of Huesca, the nephew of James I ( James Sarroca ), the king considered Christian worship in the mosque inappropriate. So in 1273, he proposed the building of a new gothic cathedral
, which was on the increase in Europe, on top of the old mosque (of which just a horseshoe arch
in the cloister
area, which could have been used entry to the minaret tower of the mosque). But several lawsuits delayed the start of construction until 1294. The initial design proposed a construction of three naves, with five chapels at the front and a transept.
Situated next to the old mosque
the Wasqah Taifa, it came up in the 12th century . The small Romanesque church dedicated to "Saint Mary of Joy". It comprises a frame with three archivolts: a segmented interior and external columns at the entrance. The innermost archivolt is decorated with Zamoran coils. Alight by a pair of two pairs of pilasters and chapels, with their corresponding shafts, with simple iterior decoration. A part of the original Romanesque cloister is attached to the north side of the temple of which only the north and east bays and the southern part remain. The west bay was destroyed to build the Gothic cloister of Pope Luna, extending the south and north bays of the Romanesque.
The general design of the temple consists of a Latin cross with side chapels and three naves of four sections as well as the transept.
The front was built with five apses between 1294 and 1309. The north wall of the transept was also constructed, with its round-arched doorway the annexe, which was used for the vestry (the "Old Sacristy) and for archiving. Construction of the lateral naves took place between 1296 and 1304 Later he built the side chapels by his own initiative.
Between 1327 and 1348 the simple groin vaults in the side naves were put up and the central nave and the transept were covered with a wooden roof. The front of the cathedral, which is the work of the builder Guillem Inglés is an outstanding piece of Gothic sculpture. Consisting of seven archivolts that are home to sixteen figures, fourteen virgins, ten angels and eight prophets. The typanum is dominated by a statue of the Virgin and Child, and the sides by the Magi and the resurrected Christ with Mary Magdalene.
In the same period of the XV century, thanks to the initiative of Pope Luna, Benedict XIII, part of a Gothic cloister was created, with the aim of restoring and replace the old Romanesque one. The only part that was actually built was the corridor on the south side. The rest were can now be found incomplete in what is now the Medieval Art Hall of the Cathedral Museum.
At the beginning of 1520 Damian Forment
was commissioned to erect the cathedral's main altarpiece. Made of alabaster, the body is a large triptych of three scenes depicting the Passion
of Christ.
of 1936. This beautiful spire tower that used to rise one third higher than its current height, for various reasons has not been reconstructed. However there are plans for a rebuilding project, restoring the Cathedral's imposing stature that it once had.
Huesca
Huesca is a city in north-eastern Spain, within the autonomous community of Aragon. It is also the capital of the Spanish province of the same name and the comarca of Hoya de Huesca....
, north-eastern Spain. It is the seat of the Bishop of Huesca. Its architecture is 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....
, and its construction began in the late 13th century and was finished in the early 16th century.
Construction
The project of building the Cathedral of Huesca was initiated during the time of James I of AragonJames I of Aragon
James I the Conqueror was the King of Aragon, Count of Barcelona, and Lord of Montpellier from 1213 to 1276...
( 1213 - 1276), which is rather late when compared to other churches in the area, which date back to the 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,...
period . This is due to the fact that in Huesca
Huesca
Huesca is a city in north-eastern Spain, within the autonomous community of Aragon. It is also the capital of the Spanish province of the same name and the comarca of Hoya de Huesca....
, Christian worship took place for almost two centuries in the mosque building, until the late thirteenth century . As the newly consecrated bishop of Huesca, the nephew of James I ( James Sarroca ), the king considered Christian worship in the mosque inappropriate. So in 1273, he proposed the building of a new gothic cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
, which was on the increase in Europe, on top of the old mosque (of which just a horseshoe arch
Horseshoe arch
The horseshoe arch, also called the Moorish arch and the Keyhole arch, is the emblematic arch of Islamic architecture. They were formerly constructed in Visigothic Spain. Horseshoe arches can take rounded, pointed or lobed form....
in the cloister
Cloister
A cloister is a rectangular open space surrounded by covered walks or open galleries, with open arcades on the inner side, running along the walls of buildings and forming a quadrangle or garth...
area, which could have been used entry to the minaret tower of the mosque). But several lawsuits delayed the start of construction until 1294. The initial design proposed a construction of three naves, with five chapels at the front and a transept.
Situated next to the old mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
the Wasqah Taifa, it came up in the 12th century . The small Romanesque church dedicated to "Saint Mary of Joy". It comprises a frame with three archivolts: a segmented interior and external columns at the entrance. The innermost archivolt is decorated with Zamoran coils. Alight by a pair of two pairs of pilasters and chapels, with their corresponding shafts, with simple iterior decoration. A part of the original Romanesque cloister is attached to the north side of the temple of which only the north and east bays and the southern part remain. The west bay was destroyed to build the Gothic cloister of Pope Luna, extending the south and north bays of the Romanesque.
The general design of the temple consists of a Latin cross with side chapels and three naves of four sections as well as the transept.
The front was built with five apses between 1294 and 1309. The north wall of the transept was also constructed, with its round-arched doorway the annexe, which was used for the vestry (the "Old Sacristy) and for archiving. Construction of the lateral naves took place between 1296 and 1304 Later he built the side chapels by his own initiative.
Between 1327 and 1348 the simple groin vaults in the side naves were put up and the central nave and the transept were covered with a wooden roof. The front of the cathedral, which is the work of the builder Guillem Inglés is an outstanding piece of Gothic sculpture. Consisting of seven archivolts that are home to sixteen figures, fourteen virgins, ten angels and eight prophets. The typanum is dominated by a statue of the Virgin and Child, and the sides by the Magi and the resurrected Christ with Mary Magdalene.
In the same period of the XV century, thanks to the initiative of Pope Luna, Benedict XIII, part of a Gothic cloister was created, with the aim of restoring and replace the old Romanesque one. The only part that was actually built was the corridor on the south side. The rest were can now be found incomplete in what is now the Medieval Art Hall of the Cathedral Museum.
At the beginning of 1520 Damian Forment
Damián Forment
Damià Forment was a Spanish architect and sculptor, considered the most important Spanish sculptor of the 16th century.Forment studied in Rome and Florence before returning to his native town of Valencia...
was commissioned to erect the cathedral's main altarpiece. Made of alabaster, the body is a large triptych of three scenes depicting the Passion
Passion (Christianity)
The Passion is the Christian theological term used for the events and suffering – physical, spiritual, and mental – of Jesus in the hours before and including his trial and execution by crucifixion...
of Christ.
Bell tower and spire
The bell tower was built between 1369 and 1423, first time up four floors. This was by the contractors Juan de Alguiñero and Juan de Quadros, and in its last stage of building, Jalop Pere completed it, topping the tower with a beautiful pentagonal spire. Unfortunately this disappeared during the Republican siege of the city during the Spanish Civil WarSpanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
of 1936. This beautiful spire tower that used to rise one third higher than its current height, for various reasons has not been reconstructed. However there are plans for a rebuilding project, restoring the Cathedral's imposing stature that it once had.