Church of Santa María de Bendones

Santa María de Bendones is a pre-Romanesque church in the autonomous community of Asturias, in northwestern Spain. It is located in the small town Bendones, less than 5 km southeast of Oviedo.

History

The construction of the church is dated to the reign of the Asturian king Alfonso II the Chaste ( 783 and 791-842 ). The first written mention of the church dates from the 12th century. After she suffered severe damage during the Spanish Civil War in 1936, an arson attack, it was built in the 1950s again. In 1958, she was declared a National Monument ( Bien de Interès Cultural ).

Architecture

The church has a rectangular plan. On the north and south sides of two equal-sized vestibules or chapels are grown. The interior consists of a - the Church of San Julián de los Prados similar - transept, on the Connect to the east three rectangular apses and where a vestibule and two side chambers are symmetrical with respect to the west. A longhouse there is not. The main apse is larger and higher than the lateral apses and barrel vaulted, the other rooms bear wooden ceilings. All parts of space are connected by arches. In Santa María de Bendones there are - as in other pre-Romanesque churches (eg San Baudelio de Berlanga, San Salvador de Priesca or Santiago de Peñalba ) - above the central apse exterior only, accessible via a large triple window chamber ( cámara oculta ) whose meaning is not clear. The triple window is recessed in the front wall of the central apse, surrounded by a Alfizrahmen that refers to Mozarabic influence. The other windows are fitted with insect screen, however, come from more recent times.

Murals

It is believed that the building was originally plastered outside and inside. From the painting of only a few remnants have received in the apses. As the frescoes of San Julián de los Prados they have garlands of flowers, geometric motifs and architectural renderings.

Sculptural decoration

Fragments of the original rood screen ( Canceles ) of Santa María de Bendones are now in the Archaeological Museum of Asturias ( Provincial Archaeological Museum of Asturias ) in Oviedo. In the southern side apse is the original, pre-Roman altar slab of sandstone.

Tower

Approximately one meter away from the western porch, on the south side of the church, are the remains of a rectangular free-standing tower. If he has emerged as a bell tower of the church in the early 9th century - as suspected - he is one of the oldest bell towers of the Iberian Peninsula.