Santa Maria de Porqueres
Santa Maria de Porqueres is a 12th century Romanesque church located in Porqueres on the west bank of Lake Banyoles in Catalonia . Many Romanesque art and architecture connoisseurs consider it a jewel of Romanesque Catalonia because of its balanced proportions. Santa Maria der Porqueres represents an almost ideal example of Romanesque church architecture in Catalonia. For this reason, on June 3, 1931, it was raised to the rank of "Monument of National Interest" of the Spanish state. Another special feature of this church is the free-standing Comunidor in the immediate vicinity of the church.
Location and importance of the church
The church of Santa Maria de Porqueres is located on a narrow hill on the west bank of the lake Estany de Banyoles . This location was deliberately chosen by the first settlers in order to avoid flooding of the settlement area and the church grounds. The church faces east, facing the lake. The first mention of a church at this location dates back to 906 AD. The current church was consecrated on April 5, 1182. The last restoration work was carried out between 1957 and 1960. The square bell tower was replaced by the original Kodonostasion (bell wall).
In contrast to many other Romanesque churches, Santa Maria de Porqueres directly attracts the attention of visitors. If you see the main entrance, an imposing, but still totally clear portal is captivating. If you approach from the lake side, a robust, well-formed apse catches the eye. Not visible from the outside, the apse reveals its secret inside. Secondary apses (absidioles) are built into the thick walls of the primary apse.
The portal
Despite the presence of sculptural elements that cannot be overlooked, the entrance portal is made up of four wonderful, clear, Romanesque arches. The three outer arches have a horseshoe shape. The inner arch bordering the entrance door is decorated with twenty-two carved stone medallions. The motifs here include a rabbit, a rose, a cat-like animal, a human head, a cross with flowers and an eagle. The four entrance capitals - two on each side - support the two inner arches. The motifs of these four capitals, which are essentially made up of floral motifs with a few animal motifs, invite the visitor into the interior of this church. The visitor enters through a large oak door that is decorated with fittings from the Romanesque period.
The ship and its interior
Entering the church through this portal, the nave arouses great admiration in visitors because of its elegant simplicity. The barrel vault made of smooth stones ends in a simple cornice. The nave is 19.30 meters long, extended by the 8.5 meter long apse. It is 7 meters wide and 10 meters high. It has two windows on each side.
On the left side in the back of the ship there is an original Romanesque stone baptismal font made of travertine. On the back wall to the right of the entrance portal, the "Saint Christ of Porqueres" (16th century) hangs next to the "Virgin of Sorrows" (17th century).
The triumphal arch and the choir
A majestic triumphal arch with two robust columns and mighty capitals separates the choir from the nave. The capital on the left shows a blessing Jesus surrounded by his apostles. In addition to angel scenes, the capital on the right shows scenes from the Garden of Eden: Eve offers Adam the forbidden fruit, who also eats it. The snake - a symbol of the devil - coils on the tree of knowledge.
The sanctuary is divided into three secondary absids (absidioles). It contains a processional cross and an image of Our Lady, the patroness of this church, both from the 16th century. High in the apse above the altar is a medieval, multi-colored beam bearing the sun and moon symbols surrounded by stars.
The Comunidor
A special feature of this church is the free-standing Comunidor , which is completely separated from the actual church building . As long as religious life was an integral part of general social life, priests have used such a shrine to bless all four cardinal points and thus protect the harvest from possible storms. The wooden beam roof and the iron cross on the top of the roof are two interesting features of this medieval building.
literature
- Ajuntament de Porqueres (Editor): Santa Maria de Porqueres - A romanesque church of the 12th century . (This leaflet is also available in Catalan and Spanish.)
Web links
Coordinates: 42 ° 7 ′ 18.6 " N , 2 ° 44 ′ 54.8" E