Church of Santa María la Real

The Catholic parish church of Santa María la Real in Sanguesa, a town in the Spanish autonomous region of Navarre, was in the 12th/13th. Century built. The church has a magnificent south portal with Romanesque sculptural decoration, inside a Plateresque altarpiece from the 16th century has survived. 1889, the Church of the monument ( Bien de Interès Cultural ) was told.

History

In the 11th century a bridge over the River Aragon was built in Sanguesa, about the Camino Aragones, a route of the Camino de Santiago led. End of the 11th century was Sancho Ramírez, King of Aragon and Navarre, a castle built in the immediate vicinity of the bridge. Within the palace district, the church of Santa María la Real was built. The first written mention of the church dates from the year 1131, when Alfonso I., the son and successor of Sancho Ramírez, the palace including the church of Santa María bequeathed to the Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem, which until 1351 Sangüesa a Coming entertained. As a result, the properties became the diocese of Pamplona.

Architecture

Exterior

The three-part chorus main dates from 1131, the first phase of the church. The central apse is higher than the two lateral ones. It is pierced by three arched windows and three oculi. The lateral apses each have two arched windows that are framed as the main apse of columns and Archivolts. Strong buttresses divide the outer walls. The corbels under the umbrella approach are largely renewed, only four on the south side of the apse are original.

About the cupola rises the with a pyramidal roof covered, octagonal bell tower. It was built by the 13th and 14th centuries at the transition and has, with its lancet windows and gargoyles, its trefoil frieze and crab decor elements of Gothic style already on.

The construction of the nave with the magnificent south portal stretched from the late 12th to the 13th century.

South portal

An extraordinary sculptural decoration has the south portal. It is bounded laterally by two buttresses and is surrounded by three Archivolts which rest on three pillars occupied with sculptures. The figures on the left represent the three Marys is, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of Jesus, and Mary Salome, the mother of the Apostles John and James. In the book, which holds Mary in hand, an inscription with the name of the sculptor is to be read: MARIA MATER XPI Leodegarius FECIT ME ( Mary, mother of Jesus, Leodegarius created me ). The figures in the right-hand side, the apostle Peter, Paul and Jude dar. Around his neck the rope is tied, with whom he has hanged himself. The consoles (sp. mocheta ) on which rests the tympanum are designed as a cow's head and a monster that devours three people.

The Archivolts are occupied by persons with bishops, pilgrims, musicians, warriors and people who embody various crafts such as Seiler, butcher or blacksmith. Other figures are intended to symbolize the virtues and vices.

On the tympanum of the Last Judgment is shown. In the center Christ is enthroned as judge of the world, flanked by angels who blow into horns. To his right are the elect, on his left the damned, who are depicted naked and surrounded by monsters. Even the archangel Michael who weighs the souls is to recognize. On the lower level are represented Mary with the child Jesus on her lap, and the twelve apostles. The apostles are under arcades, which are separated from one another by ornate pillars. Only Mary sitting on a throne.

About the Archivolts are followed by two rows of small arcades resting on twin columns with ornate capitals. The bottom row is staffed with eight figures of the apostles. The middle of the top row holds a Majestas Domini representation to the group, the four symbols of the Evangelists. Under the arcades of the top row are two angels and four apostles, including Peter, who is recognized by its keys.

Also on the buttresses and in the spandrels of the portal, there are further illustrations of animals, humans, mythical creatures, hunting scenes and biblical themes. The top section of the portal provides a narrow canopy, resting on corbels, are carved with animal heads. On the middle corbel is a hugging couple can be seen.

Jamb the left

Jamb of the right side

Majestas Domini and apostles

Interior

The three-aisled nave of the church extends only over two bays. The transept does not project beyond the nave beyond. A powerful, resting on pointed arches and squinches dome spans the crossing. Main and side aisles are covered with ribbed vaults. All three vessels open into vestibules.

Equipment

• The sculpture of St.. Blasius dates from the 15th century.
• The main apse is occupied by a Plateresque carved from the 16th century, which is the sculptor Jorge de Flandes attributed. In its center stands a Madonna of Rocamadour, in the lower scenes, the Evangelists with their symbols. The side scenes give stations from the life of Mary again as Annunciation, Visitation, Nativity and Adoration of the Magi. The representation of the Assumption of Mary from the 18th century is a later addition.

Main altar with Madonna Rocamadour

Evangelists Mark and Matthew

Evangelist John and Luke