Collegiate church of San Martin de Elines, Cantabria Facts for Kids

The church of San Martin de Elines

The Church of San Martin de Elines is a very old and beautiful church in the valley of Valderredible, Spain. It's located in the Province of Cantabria.

This church was first part of a monastery, a place where monks lived. Later, it became a "collegiate church." This means it was an important church with a group of priests, but not a cathedral.

The church you see today was built a long time ago, in the early 1100s. It was made in the Romanesque style, which was popular back then. Some older parts, like arches and windows, show it might have been built even earlier, around the 900s.

Exploring the Church Building
Discovering the Church Interior
- Ancient Paintings
- Amazing Carved Capitals
The Peaceful Cloister
- Medieval Sarcophagi
Conservation and History
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Exploring the Church Building

The Church of San Martin de Elines is built in the classic Romanesque style. It has a rounded apse at the eastern end. This apse is the curved part behind the altar. The main part of the church, called the nave, is very tall.

Outside the Apse

The outside of the apse has three sections. These sections are separated by decorative columns. Look up at the top edge, called the cornice. It has cool carvings called corbels. These carvings show animal heads, people, and abstract shapes.

The Main Entrance

The main door to the church is on the western side. It has a semi-circular arch above it. This arch rests on columns. The tops of these columns, called capitals, are carved with plant designs.

The Bell Tower

The church also has a round bell tower. It is attached to the southern side of the building.

Discovering the Church Interior

Inside the church

Inside the apse, you'll see two levels of "blind arcades." These are arches that are carved into the wall but don't open up. The lower level has four semi-circular arches. The upper level has five arches. The carved tops of the columns here have some damage from time.

Ancient Paintings

The apse still has small pieces of Romanesque paintings. You can see two figures looking straight ahead. They are probably apostles, who were followers of Jesus. These are the only surviving Romanesque paintings in the Cantabria region.

Amazing Carved Capitals

The church has four large, rounded capitals. These sit on top of columns that hold up the dome. The carvings on these capitals are really special.

One capital shows Daniel with lions, a story from the Bible.
Another seems to show Samson fighting a lion, another Bible story.
A third capital tells parts of the Adoration of the Magi. This is the story of the wise men visiting baby Jesus. It also shows the Massacre of the Innocents.
The fourth capital has carvings of pinecones. It also shows lions eating people.

The Peaceful Cloister

The cloister is a peaceful courtyard next to the church, on its western side. It was built in the 1500s. It has a simple Renaissance style.

Medieval Sarcophagi

Inside the cloister, you can see a collection of medieval sarcophagi. These are stone coffins. Some of them have very detailed carvings.

Conservation and History

The Church of San Martin de Elines is very important. It was declared a National Historic-Artistic Monument in 1931. This means it is protected by the government.