Santa Cristina de Lena facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Inactive |
| Location | |
| Location | Lena (Asturias), Spain |
 Location in Spain
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| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Pre-Romanesque |
| Groundbreaking | 7th century |
| Completed | 852 |
| Specifications | |
| Direction of façade | NE |
| Length | 16 metres (52 ft) |
| Width | 12 metres (39 ft) |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | ii, iv, vi |
| Designated | 1985 (9th session) |
| Parent listing | Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias |
| Reference no. | 312bis-003 |
| Region | Europe and North America |
| Official name: Ermita de Santa Cristina | |
| Type | Non-movable |
| Criteria | Monument |
| 24 August 1885 | |
| RI-51-0000050 | |
The Church of St. Christine of Lena (in Spanish: Iglesia de Santa Cristina de Lena) is a very old church in Spain. It is a Roman Catholic church built in a special style called Pre-Romanesque. You can find it in the town of Lena, about 25 kilometers (15 miles) south of Oviedo. This church stands on an ancient Roman road that once connected different parts of Spain.
Contents
What Makes This Church Special?
This church has a unique design. It is different from many other churches built during the Pre-Romanesque period.
The Church's Layout
The main part of the church is a single rectangular room. It has a rounded ceiling, like a barrel. Four smaller rooms are attached to the middle of each side.
- Entrance Area: One of these rooms is a typical Asturian Pre-Romanesque entrance. Above it, there's a special balcony called a "royal tribune." You can reach it by stairs.
- Altar Area: To the east, you'll find the area with the altar. Unlike many Asturian churches, it has only one altar space. This design might have been influenced by older Visigothic churches.
- Side Rooms: On the north and south sides, there are two more rooms. These rooms have rounded arches and barrel-shaped ceilings. People believe they were used for special church services that were common in Spain until the 11th century.
The Elevated Altar Section
One of the most interesting parts of St. Christine of Lena is the altar area, called the presbytery. It is raised higher than the rest of the church floor. This area is separated from where the people sit by three arches. These arches are supported by marble columns.
This kind of separation is seen in other old churches in Asturias. However, no other church has this exact structure. The decorative screens above the arches and the wall around the middle arch are very old. They were actually reused from Visigothic buildings from the 7th century.
Gallery
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View from the outside
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View from the outside
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Nave and chapel
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Floor map of the church
See Also
- Asturian art
- Catholic Church in Spain
