Santa MarĂa del Naranco
Asturias, Principado de
Santa MarĂa del Naranco is a remarkable 9th-century pre-Romanesque building located on the southern slope of Mount Naranco, near Oviedo in northern Spain. Originally commissioned by King Ramiro I of Asturias as a royal palace completed in 842, it later gained religious significance when consecrated as a church in 848. Architecturally, it is notable for its barrel vault supported by transverse arches and external buttresses, marking a pioneering step toward Romanesque construction. The structure features two floors: a lower crypt level and an upper noble hall adorned with six blind semicircular arches, miradors at each end, and intricately carved capitals influenced by Byzantine and Visigothic traditions. Its rich sculptural decoration includes medallions and reliefs depicting animals, humans, and symbolic figures representing royal and ecclesiastical orders. Over the centuries, it evolved from a royal recreational palace into a consecrated church, undergoing medieval additions and 20th-century restorations that preserved its medieval character. Declared a National Monument in 1885 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, Santa MarĂa del Naranco stands as an emblem of Asturian pre-Romanesque art and a testament to early medieval architectural innovation.
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Astuce: Visits to Santa MarĂa del Naranco are guided except on Mondays when entry is free. The best time to visit is during spring to early autumn (April to September) when opening hours are longer. Tickets can be purchased on-site, with group discounts available, and advance reservations are recommended for groups of 20 or more. The site is accessible by Oviedo's urban bus line A, and there is ample free parking for cars and buses at the base of Mount Naranco. Note that visits are limited to groups of 25 for preservation reasons, so expect waiting times during peak seasons.
Faits intéressants
- •Santa MarĂa del Naranco was originally built as a royal palace, not a church, and was consecrated as a church only in the 12th century.
- •Its barrel vault with transverse ribs was a pioneering architectural feature that prefigured Romanesque construction techniques.
- •The building contains 32 sculpted medallions depicting animals and humans, reflecting Byzantine and Visigothic artistic influences.
- •The palace was described by 11th-century chroniclers as an admirable vaulted construction made of sandstone and marble without the use of wood.
- •It served as a symbol of King Ramiro I's legitimacy during a politically unstable period.
- •The building underwent significant restorations in the 20th century to remove later additions and preserve its original pre-Romanesque style.
Histoire
Constructed in the early 840s by King Ramiro I of Asturias as part of a royal complex on Mount Naranco, the building originally served as a palace rather than a church.
Its function shifted in the 12th century when it was converted into a church dedicated to Saint Mary, following damage to nearby religious structures.
Throughout the Middle Ages and Modern era, various additions such as a parsonage, bell gable, and sacristy were appended, but many were removed in the 1930s to restore its early medieval appearance.
The building's architectural innovations, including its vaulted ceilings and decorative motifs, were influential in the development of Romanesque art.
It was declared a National Monument in 1885 and later recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, ensuring its preservation as a cultural treasure.
Guide du lieu
Upper Noble Hall842
The main hall on the upper floor features six blind semicircular arches supported by columns embedded in the walls, with rich sculptural decoration including Byzantine-influenced cubic-prismatic capitals and medallions depicting symbolic figures and animals.
Miradors (Lookout Balconies)842
Located at each end of the upper hall, these open balconies are accessed through three arches resting on helicoidal rope-moulded columns, providing views over the surrounding landscape and exemplifying the building's verticality and elegance.
Lower Crypt842
The lower floor consists of a central chamber flanked by two side chambers, forming a crypt-like space that supports the upper hall and demonstrates the building's complex structural design.
Contact
Téléphone: 638 26 01 63
