Iglesia de Santa María de Melque
Iglesia de Santa María de Melque, Visigothic church in San Martín de Montalbán, Spain.
The iglesia de Santa María de Melque is a Visigothic church located in a village on the high plains of Toledo. It features stone barrel vaults reaching about seven meters high, horseshoe-shaped arches, and large windows with stone lintels framing the doorways.
The structure was built between the late 7th and early 8th centuries as the center of a large monastery complex spread across the valley. This period marks a transition in construction practices as the region moved between late ancient and early medieval times.
The building displays religious elements that connect to Christian communities of the eastern Mediterranean, blending Western construction methods with Eastern spiritual traditions. This mix is visible in how the spaces were organized and decorated.
The site is located away from the main road and requires a vehicle or a long walk to reach. Visiting on a weekday offers a quieter experience, as this place attracts fewer visitors than monuments in larger towns.
A network of five dams stored water for the monastery and irrigated terraced fields in the valley below. This water system reveals how early medieval monks shaped the landscape in an organized and deliberate way.
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