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After the conqueror of the city by Ferdinand III the Saint in 1236 and after making Islamic Temple sacred, a Main Chapel was created, whose head was situated next to the skylight of the entrance (al-Hakam II’s Enlargement) and nowadays we know it as: Skylight of Villaviciosa. The space between the skylight and the occidental wall of the building, was elected for the choir, the space covered the three first parts of al-Hakam II’s Enlargement in the five naves towards western.
The choir is the place reserved to the capitulars for praying during hours and assist to the cults of the Main Altar. Though this wasn’t the best place for this function. There were many conflicts between muslim and christians and till the end of the XVth Century and the arrival of Bishop Don Íñigo Manrique, the choir wasn’t reformed.
The result was a wide, light and gothic nave, characterized for it austerity. Despite its nowadays aspect, it austerity. Despite its nowadays aspect, it was one of the best decorated space of the Cathedral, where its walls were decorated with a lot of medieval pictures. Many of which are now conserved in the fine arts museum of the city.
In 1607, ended the works of the Main Chapel. Its name changed to Villaviciosa Chapel and this is the nowadays name. During the centuries the chapel was modified, with baroque vaults, covering the medieval structure, or the altarpiece of salomonic order, that is conserved in the Jesús Crossed Convent.
The baroque Chapel was destroyed at the end of XIX Century for showing the caliph work. This was ended by Ricardo Velázquez Bosco some years later. This has a basilica plan whose head is oriented towards east, following the tradition of all the cordovan churches, Ferdinand III’s churches for example; for more information you can click on our web. From the pillars you can admire big archs with mouldings. These archs have a function: envolve the vault. Among these, the wooden span roof is developed, that, at the same time is made with square shape carved in wood, decorated with vegetal paintings.
The light passes through gothic (trumpet-shaped) windows, and there is a little rosette in the western wall. |
