Church of Santa María de Bendones facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary of Bendones Iglesia de Santa María de Bendones
Religion
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
Province	Asturias
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Inactive
Year consecrated	9th century
Location
Location	Bendones, Spain
Architecture
Architectural type	Church
Architectural style	Pre-Romanesque
Specifications
Direction of façade	E
Length	18 metres (59 ft)
Width	18 metres (59 ft)

The Church of St. Mary of Bendones (known in Spanish as Spanish: Santa María de Bendones) is a very old Roman Catholic church. It is located in a place called Bendones in Spain. This church was built a long, long time ago, between the years 792 and 842. That makes it over 1,200 years old!

It's a special kind of church because it shows a unique style of building called Pre-Romanesque Asturian art. In 1958, it was named a Spanish National Monument. This means it's a very important historical building. The church has a special design with arches, small chapels on the sides, and a large main section.

What is Pre-Romanesque Architecture?

Pre-Romanesque architecture refers to buildings made in parts of Europe after the Roman Empire fell. This was before the Romanesque style became popular. In Spain, especially in the region of Asturias, a special kind of Pre-Romanesque art and architecture developed. It has its own unique look and features.

Church Design and Layout

The Church of St. Mary of Bendones looks a bit like another famous church, San Julián de los Prados. However, its floor plan is different from most Pre-Romanesque churches.

Entrance and Main Area

At the western end of the church, there are three connected rooms. The middle room acts as the main entrance hall. The two rooms on either side might have been used for people attending church or for religious leaders.

From this entrance, you walk into a single, long main hall. This hall has a wooden ceiling. It is the same length as the entrance rooms.

Side Rooms and Chapels

Next to the main hall, there are two rectangular side rooms. These also have wooden ceilings. It seems they were used for special religious ceremonies back then.

The main hall connects to the church's sanctuary through three rounded brick arches. Each arch leads to its own chapel. Only the main, central chapel has a rounded brick ceiling. The other two chapels have wooden ceilings.

The Secret Room

Above the main chapel, there is a special room. You can only get into this room from the outside. It has a unique window with three arches, shaped like a cloverleaf. The middle arch is bigger than the ones on the sides. These arches rest on two decorated columns.

Bell Tower

The church also has a bell tower. It stands separately from the main church building, but it's very close to its southern side. The bell tower has a rectangular shape at its base.

See also

In Spanish: Iglesia de Santa María (Bendones) para niños

• Asturian architecture
• Catholic Church in Spain