Iglesia de Santa María, Catholic church building in Villaviciosa, Spain
Iglesia de Santa María is a Catholic church in Lugás with a rectangular floor plan and single nave that combines Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles. The interior features stone columns and arches that support the vault and divide the space into distinct sections.
The church was built after 1270 when King Alfonso X granted Villaviciosa a town charter during the period of Christian repopulation. This construction marked the reorganization of the territory and reflected the new prosperity and stability of the era.
The church displays carved animal and human figures on its capitals and arches that reflect medieval craftsmanship from the region. These decorative details served as visual stories for people in a time when most could not read.
The church is located in a small village and can be easily visited on foot, with openings on the south and west sides. Plan time to examine the stonework and details at the doorways up close.
The south doorway features hunting scenes carved into the stone capitals, revealing the daily life of the people who built this church. Such worldly scenes in a sacred building are uncommon and show how local artisans wanted to record their surroundings.
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