San Juan Bautista Cathedral

Type of monument

Religious Architecture

Period

16th Century.

Art style

Renaissance-Baroque.

How to get there

Road transport

The Cathedral of San Juan Bautista, established as such when the Diocese was established in 1949, is essentially a 16th century work, that fits the category of columnar churches, other examples of which can also be found in the province.

With three naves of equal height, its vaulted ceilings are supported on four great ionic pillars, which on the advice of Siloé replaced the primitive gothic pillars and were later built according to plans by Jerónimo Quijano; however the whole, with the perimeter walls and chapels is a gothic concept, making the monument a transition between the two styles.

The primitive gothic vaults collapsed in the 16th century and mach later, at the end of the next century, the existing baroque ones were built, designed by Gregorio Díaz de Palacios.

Construction began around 1515, but was stopped at the end of the 16th century, as can be seen in a plan drawn by Pedro de Monte in 1597. The work was finished in the twentieth century, without consulting the original plans, resulting in the height being disproportionate to the length, as a section near the foot of the church was never built. In 1958, the interior walls were covered with the slightly dubious paintings of father Escribá.

The most notable architectural features of this building are the four great renaissance pillars with their beautifully and carefully executed stonework.
The floor plan of the building has three naves ending in a number of apses, the largest is in the centre, and the one to the side of the epistle is the most recent construction. On the other side is the the Virgen de los Llanos Chapel, with interesting crosspiece vaulted ceiling and lantern. Within it we find a well designed and restored renaissance altar, and six panels by the Master of Albacete, a Valencia trained painter who was part of the same circle as Yañez de la Almedina and Hernando de los Llanos, with a overtones of Leonardesque style and good colour effects.

The side chapels, two on each side, are covered with star shaped vaulted Gothic ceilings in the old part.

The sacristy is of particular note. It is also from the 16th century, built of solid stonework, with interesting grisaille from the period on its internal walls.

The temple also houses other artistic works such as an anonymous Judgement of Souls, a baroque image of the Virgen de la Estrella, left in trust by the Town Council, and a beautiful monstrance in a mannerist shrine made in 1581.