Church of Santiago

The Church of Santiago is a Romanesque structure with a western facade featuring three decorated archivolts supported by columns, displaying intricate medieval carvings and spiral designs. The detailed reliefs span across the doorways and showcase an abundance of figural and geometric patterns.

Construction began in the middle of the 12th century, making it one of the region's major Romanesque temples. A fire in 1811 damaged the original three-nave structure and prompted later rebuilding work.

The central arch displays 24 voussoirs carved with scenes of medieval craftsmen, musicians, and dancers that show what people wore and the tools they used in daily work.

The building sits alongside the pilgrimage route and is easily reached on foot in the town center of Carrión de los Condes. Inside, visitors can view a small collection of religious artworks from the 15th and 16th centuries while taking time to study the facade details up close.

The tympanum above the entrance shows Christ Pantocrator within a mandorla surrounded by the four Evangelist symbols and the Apostles beneath multifoil arches. This composition is especially representative of Romanesque iconography in medieval Spain.

Location: Carrión de los Condes

Architectural style: Romanesque architecture

Part of: Way of Saint James in the province of Palencia

GPS coordinates: 42.33806,-4.60389

Latest update: December 8, 2025 21:00