Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Spain Torrelavega Vaulted Ceiling of Iglesia de la Virgen Grande

Vaulted Ceiling of Iglesia de la Virgen Grande

This magnificent brick dome was made with an unusual design method.

Torrelavega, Spain

Added By
Alan Newman
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
The vaulted ceiling.   Zarateman/public domain
Inside the church.   Zarateman/public domain
Exterior of the church.   Zarateman/public domain
The vaulted ceiling.   Zarateman/public domain
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Even without knowing its engineering history, you cannot fail to be impressed when looking up at the ceiling of this contemporary church in Torrelavega, Spain. The magnificent dome supporting the roof of the Iglesia de la Virgen Grande is a late example of a structural design method known as "graphic statics," which allowed the use of easy-to-produce bricks rather than steel and concrete.

The graphic statics method was developed in the 19th century, and was later adopted by Spanish architect Luis Moya Blanco in response to a shortage of materials following the Spanish Civil War. By the time this church was built in 1964, it was probably Blanco's love of the aesthetics of brickwork rather than economy that was driving the architectural process. But in any case, the result was a beautiful vaulted brick dome that rivals many of the structures found in medieval cathedrals, without being overengineered. 

Blanco was responsible for the design of a number of other important Spanish buildings using this unique and antiquated method, his last project being as late as 1972. But the roof of the Iglesia de la Virgen Grande (Church of the Great Virgin) is arguably his most impressive. The rest of the church is also a fine example of contemporary design, and the artworks and stained glass are fantastic. The church is said to have been built on the footprint of the Tower of the Vegas, an ancient structure that gave the city its name.

Related Tags

Churches Design Engineering Architecture Architectural Oddities Domes Sacred Spaces

Know Before You Go

There is an underground parking lot about 100 yards from the church.

Community Contributors

Added By

Dr Alan P Newman

Published

June 26, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.researchgate.net/publication/312602025_Graphical_methods_for_the_design_of_Catalan_vaults_the_case_of_Luis_Moya_Blanco's_Nuestra_Senora_de_la_Araucana_in_Madrid
Vaulted Ceiling of Iglesia de la Virgen Grande
2 Calle Serafín Escalante
Torrelavega
Spain
43.348575, -4.049131
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Caves of Monte Castillo

Puente Viesgo, Spain

miles away

Bosque De Secuoyas (Redwood Forest)

Cabezón de la Sal, Spain

miles away

Magdalena Peninsula

Santander, Spain

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Spain

Spain

Europe

Places 757
Stories 38

Nearby Places

Caves of Monte Castillo

Puente Viesgo, Spain

miles away

Bosque De Secuoyas (Redwood Forest)

Cabezón de la Sal, Spain

miles away

Magdalena Peninsula

Santander, Spain

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Spain

Spain

Europe

Places 757
Stories 38

Related Places

  • Dome of San Lorenzo.

    Turin, Italy

    The Dome of San Lorenzo

    The intricate geometry inside this Baroque-style dome was designed to create "terror of the human soul."

  • Modernist architecture of the church.

    Huauchinango, Mexico

    Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (Parish of Our Lady of the Assumption)

    This modernist church's massive sci-fi dome may be one of Latin America's largest.

  • St. Vartan Cathedral in the middle of the city.

    New York, New York

    Saint Vartan Armenian Cathedral

    A replica of a 7th-century church hides in plain sight in the middle of the concrete jungle.

  • St. Hallvard’s Church with its inverted dome, seen from one of Enerhaugen’s high-rises.

    Oslo, Norway

    St. Hallvard's Church and Monastery

    The Brutalist building harbors an unusual inverted dome that swoops down over its central sacred room.

  • The Igloo Church.

    Inuvik, Northwest Territories

    Our Lady of Victory Church

    This house of worship in the Arctic Circle is shaped like an igloo.

  • The church as it stands today.

    Most, Czechia

    Moved Church of Most

    This Gothic church was wheeled in its entirety to a new location a half a mile away.

  • Independence Temple.

    Independence, Missouri

    Independence Temple

    This otherworldly church spire reaches up toward the heavens.

  • Entrance of the church.

    Viana do Castelo, Portugal

    Santuário do Sagrado Coração de Jesus

    An icon of the city, this chapel features an amazing dome ceiling and offers panoramic views.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.