"The Holy Cathedral Church of Our Lady of the Assumption and of San Frutos de Segovia , known as the Lady of the Cathedrals for its size and elegance, is a cathedral built between the 16th and 18th centuries , in a Gothic style with some Renaissance features . The Cathedral of Segovia is one of the later Gothic cathedrals in Spain and Europe, erected in the 16th century (1525-1577), when Renaissance architecture was spreading throughout most of Europe.
The old Cathedral of Santa María de Segovia was destroyed in 1521 during the War of the Communities , due to its proximity to the Alcazar , the cloister - the work of Juan Guas - and other elements were transferred to this place. Its construction began in 1525 according to the plans of Juan Gil de Hontañón ; It was financed by the Segovian people through contributions from the unions and armholes from the town hall.
It has a structure in three high naves and an ambulatory , highlighting its beautiful windows with complicated and fine openwork tracery as well as the extraordinary quality of the numerous stained glass windows. The interior shows a remarkable unity of style (late Gothic), except for the dome of 1630 and presents an imposing and sober appearance. Its Gothic vaults rise 30 meters high and measure 50 meters wide and 109 in length. The transept is covered with a dome completed by Pedro de BrizuelaIn XVII century. The mighty tower reaches almost 90 meters. The current stone spire that crowns the tower dates from 1614, erected after a great fire caused by an electrical storm. The original entirely Gothic spire, built of American mahogany wood, with a pyramidal structure reached the highest height in Spain.
Among the chapels, the most notable are the Santísimo Sancramento, with a magnificent altarpiece by José de Churriguera , as well as those of San Andrés, with the Flemish triptych of the Descent by Ambrosius Benson ; and the Descent with the extraordinary Yacente Christ, by Gregorio Fernández . The altarpiece of the main altar , the work of Francisco Sabatini , is dedicated to the Virgin of Peace. Sculptures of the Segovian saints San Frutos, San Geroteo, San Valentín and Santa Engracia adorn it. The choir preserves the Gothic stalls of the old cathedral and is flanked by two large Baroque organs, from the 18th century. The Cathedral Museum has remarkable artistic works ofPedro Berruguete , Sánchez Coello and Van Orley , among others, and the Cathedral Archive guards, among many others, the Aguilafuente Sinodal , the first book printed in Spain.
Main Chapel
The current altar was ordered to be built by Carlos III (1759-1788), with a design by Francisco Sabatini (1722-1795). It began in 1768 and was completed in 1775 in the workshops of the Royal Palace of Madrid.
The altarpiece that occupies the main altar is a set of marbles of different colors and bronzes that recreate a neoclassical structure.
On a plinth covered with black marble veined in white, there is a pedestal, on which stands an altarpiece made up of two bodies of different heights. The lower one is larger with two large columns on each side of the central niche. In the intercolumniates, two large blank images of San Frutos and San Geroteo are works by Adeba Pacheco. In the central niche there is a seated image of the Virgin of Peace (13th century) that was donated by King Henry IV to the Cathedral, although it is believed that its owner may well have been King Ferdinand III the Holy. Currently this image is covered with silver, a work done by Antonio Vendetti in 1775, as well as the seat on which the image sits. In the upper part of the altarpiece, on the cornice, two seated images in white, of San Valentín and Santa Engracia with the palms of martyrdom, and in the center of the pediment the anagram of the Virgin. At the top a cross between angles.
The bars that close the Main Altar are a baroque work by Antonio de Elorza (1736) and were gilded by Miguel and José Borbúa from Segovia. It is decorated with lilies, coats of arms and medallions on the crests.
Chorus
Located in front of the Main Altar, it is closed by a grill work by Antonio Elorza from 1729. The stalls were brought from the old cathedral, and placed in 1558 by Juan Gil and Jerónimo de Antwerp, and finished in 1790 by Fermín Huici. It is in the flamboyant Gothic style, dating from the late 15th century and was ordered by Bishop Juan Arias Dávila.
The arches that form the backs of the chairs are ogee arches that in turn enclose lowered arches that are supported by long columns. In the upper part, the chairs are decorated with openwork tracery. There are seats reserved for the kings, closer to the gate, to be able to follow the divine offices. Both seats are topped by two small Gothic domes. On the episcopal chair the coat of arms of Juan Arias Dávila"
Font: (
visit link)