Artaiz - San Martin

This church, dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours, was a real surprise to me. The single nave structure was probably erected within the 12th century. It was built in a "walking distance" off the pilgrim routes (like "San Pedro de Echano"), as the hamlet Artaiz is just about 10kms north of the "Camino Aragonés". San Martin will have been for sure a stopover for pilgrims, who had visited the tomb of Saint Martin of Tours, following the "Via Turonensis".

The portal of Saint Martin is extraordinary in the specific iconography, that in parts may reflect the relations to the Islamic neighbours (Reconquista). Some of the corbels under the roof are remarkable as well.

Here on the right a little weathered bishop, wearing a mitra and holding a crozier. He is obviously blessing the pilgrims below. The corbel to the left is strange. A head with three faces can be found on one of the artful capitals of the portal, but this one is different. Actually I have the impression it is not Romanesque, but modern. It is totally unweathered and it is carved from a different stone in a very modern style. I may be wrong...