San Andrés (Avila)

San Andrés Church

South side

The Roman Catholic Church of San Andrés in Ávila , the capital of the province of the same name in the Spanish autonomous region of Castile and León , is considered the city's oldest Romanesque church building. The church was probably built at the end of the 11th century - at the same time as the Ávila city walls were being built. San Andrés is located north of the city wall in the former masons and stonemasons quarter. In 1923 the church consecrated to the Apostle Andreas was declared a monument ( Bien de Interés Cultural ). In 1985 the old town of Ávila and its churches outside the city walls were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List .

architecture

Exterior construction

Side apse with corbels and frieze

South portal

Two three-quarter columns divide the outer wall of the main apse into three fields, each pierced by a narrow arched window framed by two slender columns. A cube frieze runs above the windows , which is continued on the southern side apse as a rosette frieze . A window has been cut in the axis of the southern side apse. The approach to the roof is covered with corbels , which, like the capitals of the columns , were originally carved with heads and animals. Most of them have been renewed.

Portals

Capitals of the west portal

Capitals of the south portal

The two portals of the church are on the west and south facades. They are surrounded by archivolts , which rest on pillars and are decorated with round bars and rosettes. The capitals of the columns are badly damaged. One can recognize griffins , hapyia and stylized leaves. The keystone of the second archivolt of the south portal bears the Christ monogram.

inner space

The nave has three aisles and is divided into four bays . The two side aisles lead directly into small, semicircular apses . A wide choir bay is inserted between the central nave and the main apse, which is also closed in a semicircle . The central nave arcades rest on pillars with half-columns on all four sides. Numerous capitals with representations of people, animals and mythical creatures have been preserved in the church.

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literature

• Jaime Cobreros: Las Rutas del Románico en España . Vol. 1, Madrid 2004, ISBN 84-9776-010-7 , pp. 201-203.
• Luis María de Lojendio, Abundio Rodríguez: Castille Romane . Vol. 2, Editions Zodiaque, La Pierre-qui-Vire 1966, pp. 300-303. (without ISBN)

Web links

Commons : San Andrés (Ávila)  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• Ávila: San Andrés www.arquivoltas.com (Spanish, accessed February 23, 2014)
• Iglesia de San Andrés, Ávila www.arteguias.com (Spanish, accessed February 23, 2014)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Old Town of Ávila with its Extra-Muros Churches UNESCO World Heritage List (English, French, accessed on February 23, 2014)

Coordinates: 40 ° 39 ′ 34.3 "  N , 4 ° 41 ′ 43.3"  W.