Santa Maria de Barberà, Romanesque church in Barberà del Vallès, Spain
Santa Maria de Barberà is a Romanesque church from the 11th century featuring three-colored ashlar stones, blind arches, and decorative Lombard bands running across its exterior walls. The building displays the typical stonework patterns of that style, with carefully arranged masonry and architectural details that define its visual character.
The church was built between 1050 and 1090, with its first written record appearing in 1123 when local documents mentioned its existence. Major restoration work carried out in the 1940s revealed previously hidden artistic layers beneath the walls.
The interior preserves medieval wall paintings depicting biblical scenes that reflect how people of that era understood and visualized their faith. These artworks from different periods show how worship practices and artistic expression changed over time in this space.
The church is open to visitors on most days, and guided tours are available to explain the building's architectural features and design elements. As an active place of worship, visitors should dress respectfully and be mindful of any ongoing religious services or events.
When the church was restored in the 1940s, workers discovered paintings from the 12th and 13th centuries hidden beneath the surface, showing very different artistic styles from one another. This find reveals how successive generations reworked and redecorated the interior over centuries.
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