Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de Estíbaliz

Nuestra Señora de Estíbaliz is a Romanesque monastery church. It is located outside the village Argandoña, less than 10 km east of Vitoria- Gasteiz, in the province of Álava, the autonomous Spanish region of Basque Country. In the church a seated Virgin Mary is kept with the Child, which dates from the 12th century and is revered as the patron saint of Álava. In the church are preserved Romanesque capitals. Of particular interest is the south portal, called the Porta Speciosa.

History

Already in 1074 the monastery was mentioned in writing. From 1138 it was under the Benedictine monastery of Santa María la Real in Nájera. The present church was built in the 13th century. After the dissolution of the monastery in the 15th century it was used as a parish church. From the mid-16th century, the plant was owned by the Hospital de Santiago Vitoria- Gasteiz, until the early 20th century, took over the province of Álava. Was then commenced to restore the church and new monastery buildings were built in 1923 again moved in Benedictine.

Architecture

The plan of the church is a Latin cross. The nave has a single nave and extends across three bays. In the east, joins the transept of a three-part apse. There are portals on the west and south facades. The west portal was rebuilt in the 20th century.

Interior

For the apse a slightly broken bow resting on massive pillars with half columns opens. In the capitals of the fall of Adam and Eve are seen and an Annunciation scene. The representation of a woman, the breasts are bitten off by a toad and a snake symbolizes the fornication. A person whose neck hangs a thick bag, pulling the devil, embody the avarice.

Sculptural decoration

The roof of the apse, resting on stone slabs which rest on corbels with carved animal figures, floral designs or geometric figures.

South facade and Porta Speciosa

About the south facade rises the reconstructed open bell tower ( espadaña ) with two large arched openings. In the center of the façade opens with a Archivolts on columns and capitals designed arched windows. A cornice resting on carved corbels, forms the upper end of the portal. This is surrounded by slightly tapered, fitted with leaf motifs Archivolts and columns, whose shafts are decorated with plaits. The capitals rolled sheets are volutes and as shown on the relief panels of the jambs of leafy vines entwined people. On the right side of the portal, at the height of the approach of Archivolts, the Annunciation by the Archangel Gabriel is shown.

Equipment

The Virgin Mary in the apse, the Virgin of Estíbaliz ( Virgen de Estíbaliz ), dates from the 12th century and is revered as the patron saint of Álava.

The baptismal font has been preserved from the 13th century. It is decorated with stylized leaves. Human heads and animals are framed by columns and trefoil arches, that should draw attention to the Heavenly Jerusalem.