Church of Santa María de Bendones

Bendones, Spain

Santa María de Bendones is an Asturian Pre-Romanesque Roman Catholic church situated in Bendones, Spain, build between 792 and 842.

The structure is similar to the church of San Julián de los Prados, although the ground plan is not the typical basilica of the Pre-Romanesque churches, but has three enclosures at the western end, the central one as an entrance vestibule and two side areas possibly to house parishioners or ecclesiastics. This entrance leads into a single nave with a wooden ceiling, the same length as the entrance enclosures. The nave adjoins two rectangular side areas, also with a wooden ceiling, whose use seems to associated with the liturgical rites of the period. this nave joined with the sanctuary by three semicircular brick arches, each of which leads into its corresponding chapel, of which only the main or central one is covered with a brick barrel vault, the other two with wooden ceilings.

Above the main chapel is the 'typical' chamber, only accessible from outside, through a trefoil window with the standard Pre-Romanesque features; central arch larger than the side ones, resting on two free-standing capitals with rope moulding, and the upper rectangle framed by simple moulding.

Independent from the church structure, though close to its southern facade, stands the bell tower, on a rectangular ground plan.

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Details

Founded: 792-842 AD
Category: Religious sites in Spain

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

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4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Raúl Ramos Solar (18 months ago)
The beautiful Santa Maria de Bendones It is the only Asturian pre-Romanesque church that has a bell tower. Pre-Romanesque church probably built in the time of the monarch Alfonso II. Destroyed in 1936, and its ruins identified in 1954 by Joaquín Manzanares, it underwent a controversial reconstruction in 1958. The current temple has a single central nave, a tripartite chancel and a narthex at the foot. In the north and south walls there are two compartments that communicate with the interior of the church. In front of the church, in its southwest corner, a bell tower has been rebuilt. The exterior of the temple is decorated by brick arches and reconstructed lattices. However, in the temple there are original pieces such as the alfiz with triple arches that illuminates the hidden chamber located above the central chapel. The interior of the temple has a wooden roof, except for the chapel of the central nave, which is covered with a vault. Like other pre-Romanesque temples, it was decorated with mural paintings of which remains remain on the arch on the south side.
Pepelu Cánovas (2 years ago)
Sooo pretty.
Mateoriella Producciones, animación y espectáculos (2 years ago)
Pretty but not much to do in the environment
Pilar Menéndez (2 years ago)
A real shame that it is closed and cannot be visited. It is next to Oviedo ... A little beyond the cemetery, and you can continue to Tudela Veguín following the Nalón ... Ideal for a sunny day
Rafael Galindo (2 years ago)
Another example of the wealth of religious heritage in Asturias ... and another clear example of the lack of action on the part of the authorities when it comes to making the heritage known and taking advantage of it. I wonder what other regions would do with buildings with more than 1100 years of history ... At least some explanatory poster could.
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