Colegiata de Santa María, Gothic collegiate church in Orreaga, Spain.
The Colegiata de Santa María is a Gothic collegiate church in Orreaga featuring a pentagonal choir, cylindrical pillars, and three naves with a wider central section supported by decorated columns. Large windows flood the interior with light, while the overall complex also includes a museum, library, and pilgrim hostel.
Construction began between 1215 and 1221 under King Sancho VII of Navarre, who intended it as his burial place and refuge for pilgrims. This early founding established it as a key stop on the Camino de Santiago and shaped its role as a pilgrimage site for centuries.
The church holds a 14th-century silver-plated wooden sculpture of the Virgin of Roncesvalles above the main altar, serving as an important object of devotion for pilgrims passing through. Many visitors pause to observe this venerated figure, which has been honored at this location for centuries.
This is a primary stop for pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago, offering practical facilities including a hostel, museum, and library. The entire complex is well-suited for walking pilgrims and sits at a natural resting point along the pilgrimage route.
Beneath the church lies a pentagonal crypt containing remnants of Gothic masonry and original medieval wall paintings that few visitors explore. This hidden space preserves details from the early construction period and offers insight into artistic techniques of that era.
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