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Hermitage of Santa María de La Piscina facts for kids

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Hermitage of Santa María de La Piscina
Native name
Spanish: Ermita de Santa María de La Piscina
Ermita de Santa María de La Piscina - Sureste.JPG
Location San Vicente de la Sonsierra, Spain
Architectural style(s) Romanesque
Official name: Ermita de Santa María de La Piscina
Type Non-movable
Criteria Monument
Designated 1931
Reference no. RI-51-0000707
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The Hermitage of Santa María de La Piscina (in Spanish, Ermita de Santa María de La Piscina) is a very old church located in San Vicente de la Sonsierra, La Rioja, Spain. A hermitage is a special place, often a small church or chapel, where people used to live alone to pray.

This church was officially opened and made sacred in 1137. It was built by a person named Ramiro Sánchez. He wanted it to hold special items, called relics, from the Holy Land. These relics included what people believed was a piece of the True Cross. The church's name, La Piscina, refers to the Pool of Bethesda, a famous place mentioned in the Bible.

Protecting This Ancient Church

This hermitage is a great example of Romanesque architecture. This is a style of building from the Middle Ages. Because it is so important, it was made a protected monument in 1931. Today, it is known as a Bien de Interés Cultural, which means it is a cultural site of special interest in Spain. This helps make sure it is kept safe for the future.

Old Burial Sites

Tumbas antropomórficas de Santa María de La Piscina
Ancient graves near the hermitage

Around the church, there are interesting burial sites. These are very old graves from a time when people were moving back into the area. These graves show us how people were buried long ago.

See also

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