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Saint Peter
Gallery
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The church, dedicated to St. Peter was built between 1888 and 1894 on a port of the ancient citadel erected by Frederik II and restored by St. Luis, king of France, at the beginning of the second half of the XIII century. It was the letter who built the first monastery and church for the Franciscans, and for this reason, one can see his statue at the entrance of the Friary. The principal painting in the church depicts St. Peter on the roof of Simon the tanner's house. This painting is the work of the Catalonian artist Talarn.
Worth seeing is the pulpit, carved in the shape of the tree. It is supported by the trunk, and one, seeing the branches, leaves and fruit, had the impression of a real tree. Four panels in front show episodes in the life of St. Peter, namely the miraculous draught of fishes, the giving of the keys, the Transfiguration of Christ on Mt. Tabor and the Washing of the feet at the Last Supper. The stained glass windows, manufactured in Munich by F.X. Zettler, remind us that the present building was erected by Spain, in that particularly all of them depict Spanish Saints. The exception are those depicting the raising of Tabitha, St.Peter with keys, St.Francis of Assisi and lastly Immaculate Conception to Whom The Spanish people have a great devotion.
On leaving the church by way of the sacristy and turning right in the corridor one finds a doorway and some steps. These lead to two rooms which are remains of St. Louis' citadel and give some idea of the ancient fortification with their circular shape, low ceilings and fire embrasures. Here also, it is said, lived another famous Frenchman, some centuries after, Napoleon Bonaparte.
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