San Miguel de Lillo Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Church of St. Michael of Lillo San Miguel de Lillo Samiguel de Lliño

Religion
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Inactive
Year consecrated	848
Location
Location	Oviedo (Asturias), Spain
Architecture
Architectural type	Church
Architectural style	Pre-Romanesque
Completed	842
Specifications
Direction of façade	SSE
Length	12 metres (39 ft)
Width	10 metres (33 ft)
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Type	Cultural
Criteria	ii, iv, vi
Designated	1985 (9th session)
Parent listing	Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias
Reference no.	312-001
Region	Europe and North America
Spanish Property of Cultural Interest
Official name: Iglesia de San Miguel de Lillo
Type	Non-movable
Criteria	Monument
24 January 1885
RI-51-0000046
Website
Official website: http://www.santamariadelnaranco.blogspot.com/

The Church of St. Michael of Lillo (Spanish: San Miguel de Lillo, Asturian: Samiguel de Lliño) is an old Roman Catholic church. It is located on Naranco mountain, close to the Church of Santa María del Naranco in Asturias, Spain.

This special church was finished in the year 842. It was officially opened in 848 by King Ramiro I of Asturias and his wife, Paterna. At first, it was dedicated to St. Mary. Later, around the 12th century, its dedication changed to Saint Michael. Since 1985, it has been a World Heritage Site recognized by UNESCO. This means it is a very important place for everyone to protect.

History of St. Michael of Lillo
Unique Design and Features
Gallery
Images for kids
See also

History of St. Michael of Lillo

The church was built during the time of King Ramiro I. It was part of a larger royal complex. This complex included the king's palace and other buildings. The church served as a private chapel for the royal family.

Over time, parts of the original church were damaged. A big collapse happened around the 12th or 13th century. This event destroyed much of the building. However, the western half of the church still stands today. It shows us what the original design was like.

Unique Design and Features

Ground plan of the church

The Church of St. Michael of Lillo was first built with a basilica shape. This means it had a long central area with two side aisles. The roof was made of a special curved shape called a barrel vault. Even though much of it is gone, the remaining parts are amazing.

You can still see some incredible details. For example, the doorframes in the entrance area are beautifully carved. These are called jambs. Another special feature is the lattice on a window in the southern wall. This lattice is a decorative screen made from a single piece of stone. It shows how skilled the builders were long ago.