Trifter

The beautiful Spanish town of Toledo has a stately cathedral where the Gothic Style is predominant. It was erected on the site of a former church built in the VIIth century by the Visigoth King Reccared and Saint-Eugene, the first bishop of the city. The edifice was then converted into a mosque by the Moors. The present construction began in 1226 in the purest French Gothic Style. The works were completed only in 1493, the style having evolved into a more Spanish character with additions of different structures according to the periods. This grandiose cathedral houses so many diversified works of art that we really enter a true museum of sacred art. The masses still are celebrated here according to the Mozarabic rite, a Visigothic liturgy that the Christians of Toledo kept during the Arabic occupation.

Crossing of the transept at Toledo cathedral.

http://s3.amazonaws.com/readers/2009/11/10/catedraldetoledointerior_1.jpg

The main façade, cathedral of Toledo.

http://s3.amazonaws.com/readers/2009/11/10/kathedraletoledo_1.jpg

As we walk down the nave and gaze at the magnificent stained glass windows, in all 750, we reach the choir and enter the ambulatory whilst admiring the finely carved choir screen. In the axis of the cathedral, just behind the high altar in the ambulatory, the ribbed vault has been pierced by the sculptor Narcisso Tomé and his sons in 1729-1732 to create a light shaft for his new exuberant altar. Nobody of course, dared open a Gothic vault before, and here the mix with the Baroque Style is simply awesome. The idea of designing an altar in the ambulatory, behind the high altar of the cathedral is quite original. But it would remain in the shade. This is the reason for the light shaft topped with a transparent glass lantern. And to crown it all, an appropriate hole was also arranged in the high altar of the choir itself and dissimulated in the Baroque Décor. This gives a very curious atmosphere and at a certain time when the sun lights the tabernacle, this gives the impression that the whole altar rises to the illuminated heaven. This light phenomenon is common in Baroque architecture and was used at Saint-Peter of Rome by Bernini. The scenographic group of chubby cheeked angels in multiple amazing positions surrounding Our Lady of the Good Milk with clouds and sun beams using bronze, different colours of marble, stucco and paintings is considered the masterpiece of Narcisso Tomé. This extraordinary altar was called “El Transparente”. It is derived from this play of light. The cathedral of Toledo comprising many finely decorated chapels, retables and sepulchres was listed a World Heritage in 1986.

The extraordinary light shaft in the ribbed vault.

http://s3.amazonaws.com/readers/2009/11/10/catedraldetoledotransparente_1.jpg

Visitors gathering in front of “El Transparente” altar.

http://s3.amazonaws.com/readers/2009/11/10/transparenteoftoledocathedralsideview1_1.jpg

The altar brightly illuminated by the sun.

http://s3.amazonaws.com/readers/2009/11/10/transparenteoftoledocathedralfullview1_1.jpg

“El Transparente”: a magnificent Baroque altar.

http://s3.amazonaws.com/readers/2009/11/10/eltransparente_1.jpg

The light shaft  and exuberant décor.

http://s3.amazonaws.com/readers/2009/11/10/transparentedelacatedraldetoledo_1.jpg

The dome and Cupids inside the light shaft illuminated by the sun through the lantern. 

http://s3.amazonaws.com/readers/2009/11/10/techobovedacatedraltoledo_1.jpg

“El Transparente” Baroque altar seems to rise with the sun light.

http://s3.amazonaws.com/readers/2009/11/10/transparenteoftoledocathedralfullview2_1.jpg

Top of the magnificently decorated Baroque altar.

http://s3.amazonaws.com/readers/2009/11/10/techoaltarcatedraltoledo_1.jpg