Route of Romanesque Art
In the old County of Ribagorza and in the area of Sobrarbe, from the beginning of the 11th century, masters coming from Lombardy made an architectural style with its own characteristics flourish: this style was called Lombard Romanesque. It was the first manifestation of Romanesque art in Aragón.
OBARRA.
In the valley of the river Isábena, easily accessible from
Graus, the ancient monastery of Santa María de Obarra lies.
Its origin dates back to the 9th century.
The church of Santa María, in the purest Lombard style, is from the first third of the 11th century. It has basilical plan divided in three naves. The Hermitage of San Pablo, few metres away, belonged to the monastery’s ensemble.
VISITORS: The key is available in the Parish church
of La Puebla de Roda.
RODA DE ISÁBENA:
Some kilometres before Obarra, in the same valley of the river
Isábena, we find the ancient see of the Ribagorza’s
bishopric, now declared Monument of Cultural Interest.
The old cathedral of Roda is from the 11th century, though its construction continued for other two centuries. The building has three naves without a crossing, and three apses. One of the apses conserves some paintings. In the crypt, under the main altar, apart from some remains of mural paintings, the sarcophagus of San Ramón, bishop of Roda, is kept. It is a 13th century work decorated with beautiful relieves. In Roda are kept as well the remains of San Valero, bishop of Zaragoza. The cloister, from the 12th century, attached to one of the sides of the temple, has some coarse decoration in the capitals.
VISITS: Open in the mornings and afternoons. A guide
service is available.
ALAÓN
(Municipality of Sopeira. Access from road N-230).
In a picturesque circular valley rose the old Benedictine monastery, founded in the 11th century. The church of Santa María belonged to the monastery. This 13th century building has been declared Monument of Cultural Interest. The church has influences of the Jaca style in its Lombard Romanesque structure. We can see this influence on its walls, in the frieze ajedrezado (typical decorative pattern in Jaca’s style resembling a chessboard ajedrez-). The monastery had a great influence on the cultural, political and religious life of the area. Its structure became a model for other buildings.
AÍNSA.
The town of Aínsa, declared Ensemble of Cultural Interest
because of its beauty, is located in the heart of Sobrabe. The
old quarter, surrounded by walls, keeps all its Medieval colour
in the streets and ancient buildings, as well as in its magnificent
square with arcades, combining round and ogee arches.
The church of Santa María, built in the 11th
and 12th centuries, is a Romanesque work with a single nave and
a semicircular apse. It has a beautiful doorway with four archivolts
resting on four couples of columns with carved capitals. From
the inside of the temple we can enter the crypt and the cloister,
both of them very interesting. The big square tower had a defensive
function during the Middle Ages.
OTHER INTERESTING PLACES.
LUZÁS (Municipality of Tolva). There is a church with basilical plan, three naves with three semicircular apses and a bell-tower. Its structure is based on the model of the monastery of Alaón. It has been declared Monument of Cultural Interest.
CAPELLA (6 km. from Graus, by the river Isábena). Parish church of San Martín. Medieval bridge with seven arches. Outside the village, in the district of Laguarres, we find the Hermitage of Nuestra Señora del Plan (the keys are available in Capella’s Parish church).
MONTAÑANA (on the road N-230). Historic-Artistic Ensemble. Church of Nuestra Señora de Baldós, with an interesting façade with 6 archivolts and carved capitals.
PANO (Near Graus. Now it is uninhabited, but easily accessible). Hermitage of San Antón (11th century), declared Monument of Cultural Interest.
LA PUEBLA DE CASTRO (Between Graus and El Grado, next to Barasona reservoir). The hermitage of San Román de Castro (12th century) has been declared Monument of Cultural Interest.
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