Basilica of San Prudencio de Armentia

The Basilica of San Prudencio in Armentia is a Romanesque church from the second half of the 12th century, in which a significant portion of the original sculptural decoration is still preserved. The church is located on the southwestern outskirts of Vitoria- Gasteiz, capital of the autonomous Spanish region of Basque Country. In the High Middle Ages Armentia was 200 years bishopric. 1931, the Church of the Monumento Histórico - Artístico de interés nacional ( Bien de Interès Cultural ) was told. The church is now used as a parish church.

History

Armentia lay on the Roman road that connected Astorga to Bordeaux. Excavations suggest that it was already inhabited in Roman times. According to legend was here in the 6th century St. Prudentius born, who is mentioned in the 6th century as Bishop of Tarazona and is revered as the patron saint of Alava since 1685. In the 9th century Armentia was a bishopric until it was moved in 1087 to Calahorra. The Basilica of San Prudencio was then a collegiate Canons, which existed until 1498. At that time gave to the canons of San Prudencio, to settle in Vitoria. Santa María was their new Collegiate, the 1862 Cathedral ( Catedral Vieja today ) was after the founding of the Diocese of Vitoria.

The present church of San Prudencio was built in the late 12th century. She was initially the hl. Dedicated to Andrew. Between 1773 and 1776 the church was greatly altered. The south facade was demolished and the porch. In 1979 the Basilica of the Holy. Consecrated Prudentius.

Architecture

The church is built of regular hewn ashlars. Its plan is a Latin cross.

Exterior

The semicircular apse still get the original building from the 12th century. It is divided by two half columns into three segments, in each of which a narrow embrasure -like windows is cut. The arches of the window niches resting on capitals with roughly carved figural scenes, which are interpreted as symbolic representations of human vice or the struggle of good against evil. Fish and lamb are symbols of Christianity. Halfway up a cornice with a checkerboard frieze runs. Much finer drafted as the capitals of the window openings, the corbels under the umbrella approach, on which animals, mythical creatures and human heads are shown.

Interior

The single nave extends over three bays and is covered with a non-original groined vault. The church has a transept with a square central tower was added later, a large chancel and a semicircular apse.

The arch ribs of the cupola resting on corbels, on which angels blowing in horns. Among them are available on consoles, which are decorated with atlases and human heads, the four Evangelists. Their heads are the symbol of their being. Luke has a bull's head, John an eagle head, a head of an angel Matthew, Mark, a lion's head. The capitals of the columns represent stylized plant motifs and figurative scenes are as centaurs fighting with riders, wild animals, human -devouring monsters, birds, griffins and lions.

Fragments of sculpture in the lobby

In the 18th century, parts of the original sculptural decoration of the church were let into the walls of the south porch. In addition to an Annunciation scene and an equestrian display two tympana former portals are obtained. The larger tympanum depicts the Ascension of Christ, ascending into the company of Enoch and Elias and surrounded by eleven apostles and two angels in the sky. The smaller tympanum is provided with inscriptions and, via the monogram of Christ, which is held by two angels, the Lamb of God between John the Baptist and Isaiah dar. Under this tympanum is located behind the small stone arcades, an alcove with a sarcophagus. Other reliefs date from the 13th century and represent the burial of the three Marys and the Descent into Hell dar.

Equipment

In the church, a Romanesque baptismal font has been preserved.