Sangüesa - Santa María la Real

"Santa María la Real" is one of the highlights for all people following the "Camino Aragonés" - since about 800 years. The facade is impressing it may take hours, to find out the many details. I stayed an extra day, when I had reached the town, just to see the shadows movig over the carvings.

A church did exist here already in 1131 next to the bridge crossing the river Aragon. It was transferred by Alfonso I to the "Knights Hospitaller" (aka "Order of Saint John", later "Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta"). The apse is the oldest part of the structure and probably dates back to that time.

The nave and the breathtaking Southern Portal of Santa María la Real were created late 12th/13th century. I have uploaded a "total overview" earlier and will now focus on some details.

Below the "Last Judgement" are the Virgin and the twelve apostles, all standing under arches. The masterly carving style is late-Romanesque and very elegant. All pillars and capitals differ, some pillars are even angled. A perfect piece of miniature architecture. The apostles (note the attributes) are gesticulating and seem to communicate. (Pretty large) Jesus, sitting in the crowned Virgin´s knees, is blessing the onlookers.