Church of St John the Baptist

The Church of St John the Baptist is a Catholic place of worship in the village of Baños de Cerrato near Venta de Baños in Palencia Province. The stone building has three naves with wooden roofs, a transept and three apses that mark the early Visigothic style.

On January 3, 661, Visigothic King Recceswinth consecrated this place of worship, as documented by a marble inscription from Bishop Hydatius of Chaves. The building arose during the late rule of the Visigoths on the Iberian Peninsula.

The horseshoe arches resting on marble columns show the merging of Hispanic-Roman and Visigothic building traditions from the 7th century. This combination of influences shapes the overall appearance and spatial effect inside.

Visitors can view the building from April to September between 10 AM and 2 PM and between 4:50 PM and 8 PM, and from October to March between 11 AM and 2 PM and between 4 PM and 6 PM. The rooms are well lit and the walk-through allows a view of the essential architectural features.

This is the first preserved Visigothic monument in the Palencia region and ranks among the oldest churches in Spain. The inscription above the apse provides one of the rare exact dates for an early medieval building on the peninsula.

Location: Venta de Baños

Inception: 661

Architectural style: Visigothic architecture

Opening Hours: April 01-September 30: 10:00-14:00,16:50-20:00; October 01-March 30 11:00-14:00,16:00-18:00

GPS coordinates: 41.92083,-4.47236

Latest update: December 20, 2025 13:59