San Pedro el Real, Madrid
Encyclopedia
The Church of San Pedro el Real (St Peter the Royal), also known as San Pedro el Viejo is a small medieval church in central Madrid
, Spain.
The initial structure was built in the 14th century, but extensive renovations were performed, and a new facade and portals added in the 17th and 19th centuries. It may have begun as Benedictine
monastery, although the Bell-tower has Mudéjar
qualities, and resembles a minaret
; however, present tower seems to have been worked on in the 14th century when Madrid was firmly in Castilian
hands. It was orgininally built by King Alfonso XI
to celebrate his victory in the Battle of Algeciras in 1344.
The church contains the tombs of Kings Alfonso I of Asturias
and Ramiro II of León
. San Pedro also contains the statue of Jesus known as Jesús el Pobre, or Jesus the Poor, sculpted by Juan Astorga in the late eighteenth century.
The church is located at Calle Nuncio, 14, near the Plaza Mayor.
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, Spain.
The initial structure was built in the 14th century, but extensive renovations were performed, and a new facade and portals added in the 17th and 19th centuries. It may have begun as Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monastery, although the Bell-tower has 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...
qualities, and resembles a minaret
Minaret
A minaret مناره , sometimes مئذنه) is a distinctive architectural feature of Islamic mosques, generally a tall spire with an onion-shaped or conical crown, usually either free standing or taller than any associated support structure. The basic form of a minaret includes a base, shaft, and gallery....
; however, present tower seems to have been worked on in the 14th century when Madrid was firmly in Castilian
Kingdom of Castile
Kingdom of Castile was one of the medieval kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula. It emerged as a political autonomous entity in the 9th century. It was called County of Castile and was held in vassalage from the Kingdom of León. Its name comes from the host of castles constructed in the region...
hands. It was orgininally built by King Alfonso XI
Alfonso XI of Castile
Alfonso XI was the king of Castile, León and Galicia.He was the son of Ferdinand IV of Castile and his wife Constance of Portugal. Upon his father's death in 1312, several disputes ensued over who would hold regency, which were resolved in 1313...
to celebrate his victory in the Battle of Algeciras in 1344.
The church contains the tombs of Kings Alfonso I of Asturias
Alfonso I of Asturias
Alfonso I , called the Catholic , was the King of Asturias from 739 to his death in 757.He was son of Duke Peter of Cantabria and held many lands in that region. He may have been the hereditary chief of the Basques, but this is uncertain...
and Ramiro II of León
Ramiro II of León
Ramiro II , son of Ordoño II, was King of León from 931 until his death. Initially titular king only of a lesser part of Asturias, he gained the crown of León after his brother Alfonso IV abdicated in 931...
. San Pedro also contains the statue of Jesus known as Jesús el Pobre, or Jesus the Poor, sculpted by Juan Astorga in the late eighteenth century.
The church is located at Calle Nuncio, 14, near the Plaza Mayor.