Church of San Juan Evangelista Ante Portam Latinam

Church of San Juan Evangelista Ante Portam Latinam is a Romanesque place of worship in Arroyo de la Encomienda built with a single nave, straight presbytery, and semicircular apse. The structure features barrel and furnace vaults for ceiling coverage and places its entrance portal on the southern wall, marked by a bell gable with two openings at the western end.

The building dates from the 12th century and belonged to the Wamba Commandery of the Knights Hospitaller of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem. This connection reveals the religious and military importance of the location during the Middle Ages.

The carved capitals and corbels display hunting scenes, mythological figures, and botanical motifs that reflect medieval artistic traditions. These ornaments show how local craftspeople expressed their skills through stone decoration.

The building is easily recognizable by its southern entrance with the two-opening bell gable visible at the western edge. Visitors can clearly observe the Romanesque stonework and the main doorway without any special arrangements needed.

The apse windows contain intricate decorations with studded exterior splays and floral ornaments beneath monolithic arches that are easy to overlook during a quick visit. These fine details show the level of craftsmanship applied to areas not immediately visible from the main entrance.

Location: Arroyo de la Encomienda

Architectural style: Romanesque architecture

GPS coordinates: 41.60905,-4.79766

Latest update: December 14, 2025 09:41