Santa María de Retortillo (Torrepadre)
The single-aisled chapel of Santa María de Retortillo (the entire complex is also known as Granja de Retortillo ) in the northern Spanish hamlet (pedanía) Retortillo in the municipality of Torrepadre is one of the few buildings in the province of Burgos where influences from Mozarabic architecture can be seen .
location
The chapel is located about 16 km (driving distance) northwest of the village of Torrepadre by the hamlet of Retortillo and about 1 km south of the Río Arlanza at an altitude of about 800 m .
history
The stones found and exhibited here suggest a Visigoth foundation, but the approximately 10 m high interior of the chapel with its impressive triumphal arch points to a later construction period (10th century). The building was the religious center of an estate ( granja ) managed by monks and lay brothers . The original mother monastery is not known, but the complex is assigned to the monastery of San Pedro de Arlanza in a royal charter from 1048 . It has been privately owned since 1535; today it serves as a park-like hotel complex.
Architecture and building ornamentation
In the course of time, the chapel received numerous additions ( bell tower , portico , sacristy ). While the outside of the chapel is unadorned, the inside impresses with a triumphal arch made of precisely hewn stones, whose passage to the chancel is vaulted by a horseshoe arch, which is also framed by an alfiz . In addition, numerous stone reliefs with star patterns and figural scenes can be seen in the chapel. The front of the altar panel is adorned by four small horseshoe arcades; to the side there are again star motifs.
Furnishing
The equipment of the little church includes a Romanesque baptismal font (pila bautismal) with blind arcades and an upper border in the form of a bead . Several sculptures and paintings date from the 15th to 17th centuries. Century. A chest with an oriental-looking braided ribbon ornamentation is interesting .
Web links
Coordinates: 42 ° 4 '14 " N , 4 ° 1' 46" W.