San Vicente, Ávila
Encyclopedia
The Basilica de los Santos Hermanos Mártires, Vicente, Sabina y Cristeta, best known as Basilica de San Vicente, is a church in Ávila, Spain. It is one of the best examples of Romanesque architecture
in the country.
; their corpses were buried into the rock and later a basilica was built over their tombs. In 1062 their remains were moved to the monastery of San Pedro de Arlanza
a Burgos, but later, in 1175, they were returned in Ávila and the construction of a new basilica was started in the place. Works were repeatedly halted or slowed, and were finished in the 14th century thanks to support of Alfonso X
and Sancho IV
. The nave and aisles are cross-vaulted. In the former is the Virgen de la Soterraña, patron saint of the city.
In the exterior, notable are the decorated western and southern gates. In the interior, the most renowned attraction is the cenotaph
of the titular martyrs, in polychrome stone. It is one of the best examples of Romanesque sculpture
, extracted in area of the nearby La Colilla
. It is attributed to Giral Fruchal, the architect who introduced the Gothic
style in Spain from France.
San Vicente is on the Latin cross plan, with a nave and two aisles ending in semicircular apses, with a large transept, cyborium, atrium and a crypt
.
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,...
in the country.
History
According to the legend, the Christian martyrs Vicente, Sabina and Cristeta were martyred during the rule of the Roman Emperor DiocletianDiocletian
Diocletian |latinized]] upon his accession to Diocletian . c. 22 December 244 – 3 December 311), was a Roman Emperor from 284 to 305....
; their corpses were buried into the rock and later a basilica was built over their tombs. In 1062 their remains were moved to the monastery of San Pedro de Arlanza
San Pedro de Arlanza
San Pedro de Arlanza was a monastery in north central Spain. Founded in 912, it has been called the "cradle of Castile"...
a Burgos, but later, in 1175, they were returned in Ávila and the construction of a new basilica was started in the place. Works were repeatedly halted or slowed, and were finished in the 14th century thanks to support of Alfonso X
Alfonso X of Castile
Alfonso X was a Castilian monarch who ruled as the King of Castile, León and Galicia from 1252 until his death...
and Sancho IV
Sancho IV of Castile
Sancho IV the Brave was the King of Castile, León and Galicia from 1284 to his death. He was the second son of Alfonso X and Yolanda, daughter of James I of Aragon.-Biography:...
. The nave and aisles are cross-vaulted. In the former is the Virgen de la Soterraña, patron saint of the city.
In the exterior, notable are the decorated western and southern gates. In the interior, the most renowned attraction is the cenotaph
Cenotaph
A cenotaph is an "empty tomb" or a monument erected in honour of a person or group of people whose remains are elsewhere. It can also be the initial tomb for a person who has since been interred elsewhere. The word derives from the Greek κενοτάφιον = kenotaphion...
of the titular martyrs, in polychrome stone. It is one of the best examples of Romanesque sculpture
Description
The church is built using sandstoneSandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
, extracted in area of the nearby La Colilla
La Colilla
La Colilla is a municipality located in the province of Ávila, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2006 census , the municipality has a population of 279 inhabitants....
. It is attributed to Giral Fruchal, the architect who introduced the 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....
style in Spain from France.
San Vicente is on the Latin cross plan, with a nave and two aisles ending in semicircular apses, with a large transept, cyborium, atrium and a crypt
Crypt
In architecture, a crypt is a stone chamber or vault beneath the floor of a burial vault possibly containing sarcophagi, coffins or relics....
.