Iglesia de Santa María la Mayor, 16th century church in Colmenar de Oreja, Spain.
The iglesia de Santa María la Mayor is a 16th-century church building in Colmenar de Oreja featuring three naves of equal height constructed from local limestone, topped by a quadrangular slate roof. The interior offers an open spatial design with detailed decoration that emphasizes the architectural proportions throughout.
Construction began in 1515 under Cristóbal de Adonza, continuing with work by his son Lorenzo and later modifications by architects Martín de la Vaca and Pedro Artadi. Archaeological findings during restoration revealed foundations from the 13th century beneath the current structure.
The interior displays wall paintings created by Ulpiano Checa in 1897, showing biblical scenes in the main chapel and other religious subjects throughout the church. These artworks remain clearly visible today and define much of the visual experience inside.
The building underwent comprehensive restoration between 2004 and 2007 and received the Europa Nostra Heritage Award in 2009 for meticulous conservation work. Visitors should notice the solid structural integrity and well-maintained details when walking through the interior.
During restoration work, remains of an organ were discovered that had been destroyed during the Spanish Civil War. These archaeological finds reveal how the conflict itself altered the building's character.
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