Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de Estíbaliz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de Estíbaliz |
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| Native name Spanish: Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Estíbaliz |
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| Location | Argandoña, Spain |
| Official name: Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Estíbaliz | |
| Type | Non-movable |
| Criteria | Monument |
| Designated | 1931 |
| Reference no. | RI-51-0000358 |
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The Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de Estíbaliz is a special religious building in Argandoña, a part of Vitoria-Gasteiz, Álava, Spain. It's also known by its Spanish name, Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Estíbaliz. This beautiful sanctuary sits on a small hill, about 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) from Vitoria-Gasteiz.
It is surrounded by green forests and offers amazing views of the entire Álava province. The sanctuary is home to the patroness of Álava, a very important figure for the region. Because of its historical and artistic value, it was officially recognized as a Bien de Interés Cultural (a site of cultural interest) in 1931.
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A Look at Its History
The first mention of this special place and the Lady of Estíbaliz dates back to a royal document from Navarre in 962. The sanctuary you see today was built in the 11th century. It is a wonderful example of Romanesque art, which is a style of architecture from the Middle Ages.
In 1138, the sanctuary was given to the Benedictine monks from Nájera. They took care of it for many years until 1431. At that time, they sold it to a nobleman named Fernán Pérez de Ayala. He was the son of a famous chancellor to King Enrique de Castilla.
Later, the sanctuary was given to Santiago's hospital in Vitoria-Gasteiz. In 1542, the person who inherited the property ordered it to be repaired and updated. Many of the parts of the sanctuary that were restored were originally built between the 12th and 13th centuries.
During the 20th century, many young students came here to study. They focused especially on religious training. There was even a train line, the Basque-Navarrese Railway, that used to end at the sanctuary. This shows how important and busy the place once was, though the railway is no longer there.
What It Looks Like Today
Even though the Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de Estíbaliz has faced damage over time, including during civil wars, what remains still shows its great historical value. You can see many interesting details in its design.
For example, the building has a simple floor plan that ends with three rounded sections called apses. The columns inside are decorated with unique and interesting designs on their tops, known as capitals. You can also see an old baptismal font and the stone front of Christ's altar.
Exploring the Sanctuary's Details
On the south side of the sanctuary, there is a special entrance called the Porta Speciossa. This door has a different style and many unique details. It features two arches, called archivolts, which are richly decorated with patterns and interwoven designs. One of these designs seems to come out of the mouth of a small lion.
Above this entrance, there is a window with two parts, like a small bell tower. The main part of the church, called the headboard, has two half-columns in the center. These columns have capitals that are much lower than the current roofline, which tells us the building was once shorter. Only the south apse has a small window decorated with an archivolt. Under the central roof edge, there are some decorated supports called corbels. One of these even has a mermaid with a double tail!
The decorations on the church's cover are very detailed and rich. You can see interwoven patterns and geometric shapes on the columns. The capitals on top of the columns also have very curious details, like swirling designs or small carved heads.
At the front door, you'll find statues of an angel and the Virgin Mary on top of a small column. Both figures look like they are walking, giving a feeling of lightness and movement to the scene.
References
Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Estibaliz
See also
In Spanish: Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Estíbaliz para niños
