Iglesia arciprestal de Santa María, 18th-century Catholic church in Alcoy, Spain
The Iglesia arciprestal de Santa María is an 18th-century church in Alcoy featuring a three-nave structure supported by pointed arches. The building has two distinctive entrance doors: the Door of the Apostles and the Door of the Virgins.
The building was originally constructed between 1265 and 1343 on the site of a former Muslim mosque. After suffering substantial damage during the Spanish Civil War, it underwent major reconstruction in 1940.
The church maintains an archive museum with historical documents and religious artifacts that show the evolution of Catholic practice in the Alcoy region. Visitors can experience the religious history of the place directly through these collections.
The church sits at the highest point of Alcoy and is visible from various locations throughout the city, making it easy to use as a landmark for navigation. Visitors can reach the site easily and explore the surrounding city areas.
The Renaissance choir section features a star-shaped vaulted ceiling constructed without central support columns. This engineering solution was remarkable for its time and remains impressive to observe.
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