Santa Lucía de El Trampal, Visigothic church in Alcuéscar, Spain
Santa Lucía de El Trampal is a 7th century church distinguished by a tau-shaped floor plan with three naves connected by horseshoe arches and cross vaults. The structure comprises six preserved transversal arches supporting three independent straight chapels, each with its own access to side apses.
This church was built in the 7th century and represents one of the few surviving examples of Visigothic architecture with its original design elements intact. Its construction reflects the religious and architectural influence of the Visigothic period on the Iberian Peninsula.
The church layout reflects the needs of religious ceremonies, with distinct spaces that serve different functions and allow for processions through the building.
The church is located roughly 3 kilometers from Alcuéscar on the EX-382 road toward Montánchez and is accessible year-round. Being in a remote area, it is advisable to arrive by car and allow time for a careful visit of the site.
The church follows an unusual tau-shaped floor plan that was rare among European churches of that period, setting it apart from later Romanesque and Gothic structures. This distinctive layout reveals how early medieval architects organized space differently for religious practices.
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