Church of Saint John the Real (Oviedo)
The Minor Basilica of St. John the Real is a church from the early 20th century located in Fernando Rubio Square and designed by the famous architect Luis Bellido. Due to its monumental appearance, it is popularly known as the Cathedral of the Ensanche.
The architectural style of the basilica, whose construction lasted from 1912 to 1915, stems from many modernist currents typical of Spain at the beginning of the century. Thus, it is called an eclectic historicist construction, with Byzantine and neo-Romanesque forms being predominant.
Its design presents a Latin cross plan with a single nave where side chapels and an enormous dome supported on a dome and pendentives can be seen. There is an external decoration of red tiles, and both its header and the transept are finished in polygonal-shaped apses.
The architectural complex contains beautiful white and pink stonework in pinnacles, capitals and mouldings. Its gable-shaped façade stands out, exhibiting a wide and beautiful window with three bodies above the escorted doorway, in turn, by two towers at the top of which are temples with bells inside.
The interior of the basilica was the work of the famous Asturian priest and artist Félix Granda, who created a complex and rich iconography including sculptures, murals, paintings and altarpieces. Among them is the beautiful altarpiece of the main altar with its golden polyptych shape, containing a beautiful carving of St. John the Baptist.
Other noteworthy details are the beautiful lamp in the canopy vault with a design inspired by a Visigothic votive crown and the magnificent marble communion rail with a cast bronze lattice.
An interesting detail is that embedded in the facade of the basilica is a Spanish Civil War bomb that did not detonate.
The architectural style of the basilica, whose construction lasted from 1912 to 1915, stems from many modernist currents typical of Spain at the beginning of the century. Thus, it is called an eclectic historicist construction, with Byzantine and neo-Romanesque forms being predominant.
Its design presents a Latin cross plan with a single nave where side chapels and an enormous dome supported on a dome and pendentives can be seen. There is an external decoration of red tiles, and both its header and the transept are finished in polygonal-shaped apses.
The architectural complex contains beautiful white and pink stonework in pinnacles, capitals and mouldings. Its gable-shaped façade stands out, exhibiting a wide and beautiful window with three bodies above the escorted doorway, in turn, by two towers at the top of which are temples with bells inside.
The interior of the basilica was the work of the famous Asturian priest and artist Félix Granda, who created a complex and rich iconography including sculptures, murals, paintings and altarpieces. Among them is the beautiful altarpiece of the main altar with its golden polyptych shape, containing a beautiful carving of St. John the Baptist.
Other noteworthy details are the beautiful lamp in the canopy vault with a design inspired by a Visigothic votive crown and the magnificent marble communion rail with a cast bronze lattice.
An interesting detail is that embedded in the facade of the basilica is a Spanish Civil War bomb that did not detonate.
Location
What to see in Oviedo
