Soto de Bureba - San Andrés

San Andrés was erected on a little hill, that was settled already in pre-Roman times, as recent excavation proved. The tiny hamlet Soto de Bureba is part of the village Quintanaélez (pop. ~ 100).

An inscription above the portal gives the construction date of 1175. During medieval times the area must have been much more densely populated, as later even a second nave was added to the structure.

The parish church is known for its wonderful, sculpted portal, seen here. The arches have an interesting, but somehow strange iconography. Some of the icons are pretty unique. There is a collection of really fantastic and mythical beasts.

To the very left is an uncommon lion/fish chimera, that is easy.

The three faces are more difficult. The perspective differs from right to left, the heads grow. To the very right is a hooded person with arms (child?), in the center just the chest can be seen (mother?) and on the left is a very detailed head (father?). These are for sure portraits - and when they were carved, anybody here, knew the names of the persons depicted.