Mudejar Tower of San Martín & San Lorenzo Church: Architectural Gems
San Martín de Teruel (14th Century)
Exterior Analysis
The Tower of San Martín, a prime example of Spanish Gothic-Mudejar architecture, showcases a rich blend of Christian and Islamic influences. Built using traditional Mudejar materials like brick, plaster, and wood, the tower’s exterior is adorned with intricate geometric patterns in glazed Nasrid ceramics and gypsum ornamentation. The design features tapered concentric arches within an alfiz (a rectangular frame), and the windows decrease in size while increasing in number as they ascend the tower. Decorative panels and tiles, reminiscent of Almohad sebka and stalactite work from Granada, further enhance the tower’s aesthetic. Blind arcades of semicircular, pointed, lobed, and stilted arches, supported by columns, divide the tower’s levels. The exterior decoration is notably richer than the interior.
Interior and Context
While not visible in the provided image, the interior typically features wooden paneling covering polyhedral pillars. Apses are often decorated with blind arcades, featuring horseshoe, poly-lobed, or concentric double arches. The tower’s location alongside the city walls, serving as both a defensive structure and a gateway, links it to Islamic minarets. This unique Spanish style blends Romanesque and Gothic motifs with materials and techniques from Al-Andalus, resulting in a distinctive architectural form.
Other Mudejar Examples in Aragon:
- Church of San Lorenzo, Zaragoza
- Santa María de Utebo, Zaragoza
- San Andrés de Calatayud, Zaragoza
- Magdalena de Zaragoza, Zaragoza
San Lorenzo Church (15th Century)
Interior Analysis
The interior of San Lorenzo Church exemplifies the Italian Quattrocento style of the Renaissance, influenced by architects like Brunelleschi. Constructed primarily of marble, the basilica features a three-nave layout, with the central nave taller and wider than the aisles. Corinthian columns separate the naves, supporting arches that rest on stepped architraves, friezes adorned with medallions, and cornices. The flat roof of the central nave is decorated with coffers and gold trim, while the aisles feature arched chapels. Barrel vaults and oculi (small round windows) adorn the aisle ceilings. A prominent triumphal arch marks the entrance to the chancel. The church’s design incorporates linear perspective, a hallmark of Renaissance architecture.
Architectural Design
The basilica follows a Latin cross plan, with a square apse equal in size to the crossing. The entire structure is based on a square module, with decimal multiples used throughout, creating a harmonious balance.
Other Renaissance Examples:
- Church of the Holy Spirit
- Pazzi Chapel
- Pitti Palace