I like to take you back to nice Belmonte in my Castilla La Mancha region of the kingdom of Spain. I have to admit came here for the castle very historical of Spain and France. However, there is a lot more in this small town in the province of Cuenca. I like to update this older post with new text and links for you and me, Therefore, let me tell you about the Church San Bartolomé of Belmonte, part I !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The Collegiate Church San Bartolomé is located in the upper town of Belmonte, wthin the walled area, guards the wealth of faith and religiosity of a town made history and art, for more than five centuries. The church was built on the old Visigothic parish of the 5C. A human burial and a flat stone at its head, with the Crismón incised XP, along with other remains and old walls, which appeared in restoration works of 1976, so attest. The Marquis of Villena and Master of the Order of Santiago, Don Juan Pacheco makes almost all the church work and built it again from the foundations. At his request, Pope Pius II erected the parish of Belmonte as a Collegiate Church in 1459.
The brief description from the translated blog tell us that it has a floor plan of three large naves and of severe magnificence, with four sections that separate thick round pillars, supporting pointed arches and ribbed vaults. The supports are circular, solid and robust columns, with double pillars that serve as support to the same vaults. The Puerta de Perdones (forgiveness door), the one to the west, is flanked by two sprouted and lowered arches, sheltered under another slightly pointed one, on whose eardrum and above the mullion the solemn and majestic figure of Saint Bartholomew emerges. The Puerta del Sol or (Sun door), facing towards noon, is surrounded by two Gothic pinnacles. The hollow of the door is a lowered arch inscribed inside another trilobal of the flowery Gothic. At the intersection of all the ribs of the vault, as well as its support in each of the corresponding columns, a heraldic motif appears with the arms of the Marquis de Villena’s surnames.
The stalls of the choir of the Collegiate Church of San Bartolomé are from 1454, is the first historical choir in Spain, made up of an icon and one of the most outstanding parts of the collegiate church. It was carved from walnut wood originally intended for the Cathedral of Cuenca and transferred to Belmonte in the 18C, as stated in the minutes of the town’s council of Cuenca. The painting of the Virgin that is in the Sacristy, is placed on the presidential chair; it is a beautiful canvas on panel of the Virgin with Jesus, recently taken down from the Cross, dead in her arms, of great merit and artistic quality, The stalls were completed with the realization in 1718 of a pipe organ.
From a distance it looks very nice, and closeup outside is awesome indeed more like a Cathedral than a Collegiate Church so on the list to be seen in my beloved Castilla La Mancha. This is one never been inside as not enough time for the castle on both times there. It will be on my list to hit it next time, eventually.
The official blog of the Church San Bartolomé : https://colegiatadebelmonte.blogspot.com/p/capillas.html
The City of Belmonte on the church: https://descubriendo.es/belmonte/lugares-y-monumentos.html?dbd=7-colegiata-de-san-bartolome
The Castilla La Mancha regional Tourist office on the Church: https://en.www.turismocastillalamancha.es/patrimonio/iglesia-colegial-de-san-bartolome-32564/
The Castilla La Mancha Tourist office on the Church’s museum : https://en.www.turismocastillalamancha.es/patrimonio/museo-de-la-colegiata-de-belmonte-10361/descripcion/
There you go folks, Belmonte is nice worth the trip to see these wonderful monuments again and of course the church. Again, hope you enjoy this post on the Church San Bartolomé of Belmonte, part I !!! as i
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 