The Church of San Martín de Tours, located in Aldeamayor de San Martín, Valladolid, Castilla y León, Spain, is a historic structure that has undergone various stages of construction over the years. Its most striking feature, however, is its bell tower. Standing 34 meters tall, it is an incredible architectural feat that defies the limitations of 16th century construction. Built with stone from the canteries of tierra de Cuéllar, the tower is split into two bodies on a pedestal; the first body is smooth, and the second houses arches in the fronts.
The two bodies are reminiscent of the Romanesque and Gothic architecture of the period. The tower is capped with balustrades and pinacles, giving it an elegant appearance. A chase with the year 1566 is inscribed on the tower’s prelates, indicating the year it was completed. Diego de Cubillas is credited as the master builder for the tower, though he passed away before receiving all payments. His heir, Lope de Matienzo, collected the remaining payments for the unfinished works.
The tower, one of the highest in the area, was constructed in the last stages of the construction of the church, a testament to the dedication of the master builders of the time to create a structure that would stand the test of time.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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