Hermitage of Saint Pelayo, Romanesque hermitage church in Bakio, Spain
The Hermitage of Saint Pelayo is a simple stone building with a single nave arranged in a rectangular plan that flows into a square choir. A tower with sloped roofing stands at the entrance and defines the outer appearance of the structure.
The building dates to the 12th century and ranks among the few surviving Romanesque temples in Vizcaya province. It has endured through the centuries and remained one of the important religious sites along the northern Spanish coast.
The name honors Saint Pelayo, a revered figure in the Basque region. Visitors can observe the small details of the capitals and columns that show how craftspeople worked during that period.
The building sits near the village of Bakio and is accessible via the coastal route between Bakio and Bermeo. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear as the path crosses uneven terrain and the interior has simple stone passages.
The transition from nave to choir is particularly notable: a pointed arch with two rings and decorated stonework marks this boundary. This detail shows the skilled medieval building technique that craftspeople used to elegantly separate different spaces.
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