Church of San Pablo, Valladolid, Monastery church in Plaza de San Pablo, Valladolid, Spain.
The Church of San Pablo is a monastic building on the plaza of the same name in Valladolid, known for its richly decorated stone facade. The west front displays a dense arrangement of sculptures, gargoyles, and spires, while the central relief shows the crowning of the Virgin Mary.
Cardinal Juan de Torquemada commissioned the building between 1445 and 1468 to replace an older church that had stood beside the Dominican convent since 1270. Construction united Gothic and later Renaissance elements through the work of Spanish-Flemish architects.
The name honors the apostle Paul, patron of the Dominicans who lived and prayed in the adjoining convent for centuries. Today the building serves as a parish church where city residents attend services and religious celebrations.
The church stands in the old town center, a short walk from the sculpture museum and the royal palace. Access is through the open plaza, which makes a good resting spot after visiting the surrounding monuments.
Juan Guas and Simon de Colonia, two leading builders of the 15th century, worked on the facade design during different phases. Their collaboration blended Flemish ornamentation with Spanish Gothic and created one of the richest church fronts on the Iberian Peninsula.
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