Santiago de Peñalba facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Santiago de Peñalba
Church of Santiago de Peñalba
Spanish: Iglesia de Santiago de Peñalba

Location	Peñalba de Santiago, El Bierzo (Province of León)
Country	Spain
Denomination	Catholic Church
History
Dedication	James the Great
Consecrated	937
Relics held	Cross of Peñalba
Architecture
Heritage designation	Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC)
Architectural type	Mozarabic arquitecture
Style	Mozarabic

The Church of Santiago de Peñalba is a very old church in the town of Peñalba de Santiago, in Spain. It is a great example of Mozarabic art, which is a style from a time when Christian and Muslim cultures mixed in Spain.

This church was built in the early 900s, around the year 937. It was started by a religious leader named San Genadio and finished by his student, Abbot Solomon. This church is the only building left from a much larger monastery that used to be here.

The area around the church is very mountainous. It was once called "Tebaida berciana" because many hermits (people who lived alone for religious reasons) and monasteries were there. Famous saints like San Fructuoso and San Genadio chose this isolated place. San Genadio was very important for bringing back spiritual life to the El Bierzo area.

Because of its historical value, the church has been named a Site of Cultural Interest (BIC) and a National Historic-Artistic Monument since 1931.

The Church of Santiago de Peñalba in winter.

History of the Church
Church Architecture
Inside the Church
- Mural Paintings
- Medieval Graffiti
Special Items (Relics)
Gallery
See also

History of the Church

The kingdom of León was a place where different cultures met and sometimes disagreed. It was a "border society" with its own unique art. This art was special because the society was very diverse. Christians, Jews, and Muslims lived together. Borders changed often due to battles and agreements. The Church of Santiago de Peñalba was built during this exciting time.

The idea for the church came from a Christian leader, San Genadio. It was planned by another Christian, Solomon. But the church was built and decorated by a community of Arabized Christians. These builders were very skilled. They likely came from Al-Andalus, the Muslim-ruled part of Spain. The monastery was very important for a long time, but it disappeared around the year 1283.

The church was built between 931 and 937, during the rule of King Ramiro II. King Ramiro II gave gifts to the church, including the famous Cross of Peñalba in 940. This cross is now a symbol of the El Bierzo region. Even with many valuable items, the monastery often faced money problems. These were usually solved by donations.

After the monastery was gone, Santiago de Peñalba became a local church for the town. The town of Peñalba de Santiago grew up around it. Because the church was in an isolated area, it stayed mostly the same for centuries. It was not changed or added to much. Historians like Manuel Gómez-Moreno discovered its historical importance in 1909.

Peñalba de Santiago in 1951.

Church Architecture

The Church of Santiago de Peñalba is made from slate and limestone. From the outside, it looks a bit like Visigothic churches. It has a cross shape. But its inside structure is quite different. It has six main parts. Four parts are along the main line, and two smaller chapels form a cross.

The roofs are made of slate and stick out quite a bit. They are held up by corbels (stone supports). These corbels have cool geometric shapes and flower designs. This is typical of Mozarabic churches. The bell tower is separate from the main building. It stands at the front, on the western side.

The main entrance is on the south side. It has a beautiful doorway with two strong horseshoe arches. These arches are supported by marble columns. The columns have fancy tops called Corinthian capitals. This decoration is just for looks, not for holding up the building. A larger horseshoe arch frames the whole entrance, making a small porch.

Inside, the church is special because it has two apses (rounded ends), one at each end. This was rare for its time. The second apse, facing the sunset, was used for burials. It holds the tomb of San Genadio. The main apse has a square outside and a horseshoe shape inside. Its ceiling is a "gallon vault," which was a clever building trick. The other parts of the church have barrel vaults (rounded ceilings).

The presbytery (the area around the altar) is taller than the rest. You enter it through a horseshoe arch. Its ceiling is an eight-part gallon vault. The church's design allows for big openings and horseshoe arches. The inside also has rich decorations. Recently, old paintings from the Caliphal period were found. They show plants, geometric shapes, and even painted bricks.

The Santiago de Peñalba church is a fascinating mix of different styles. It combines moon and star symbols, which remind us of Celtic traditions. Its Latin cross shape shows its Christian faith. And its Arabic features, like the special dome and horseshoe arches, make it truly unique.

Inside the Church

Mural Paintings

Caliphate-style mural paintings inside the church.

The inside of the church is covered with old paintings. These paintings are from the Caliphate period. Originally, they covered the whole building. Today, you can see them best on the arches of the central dome and in the two apses.

The paintings were done in three different stages. The oldest ones are from the 10th century, the same time the church was built. They used a technique called fresco painting. This means the artists painted on wet plaster. They would first draw the design on the wet wall. Then, they would apply the colors.

The paintings show patterns that look like bricks. There are also designs of plants and geometric shapes. A red painted base at the bottom of the walls looks very similar to paintings found in Medina Azahara in Córdoba. These paintings were made with great skill and high-quality colors. Parts of them have been restored since 2004.

Medieval Graffiti

Inside the church, especially on the choir walls, you can find many old drawings. These are called medieval graffiti. They are carvings in the plaster. You can see human figures, geometric shapes, and even animals. This collection is very interesting. It shows us what life was like for the people who lived in the monastery.

Some drawings might have been practice for the monks. They would try out designs before drawing them on paper. Paper was very expensive back then! Other drawings might have been made by monks for fun. Or maybe they drew them to show who they were.

Some cool examples include two lions and a hunting scene. There's also a monk wearing riding spurs and giving a blessing. You can also see the name GĒNADII carved many times. This refers to San Genadio, the saint who helped build the church.

Graffiti inside the church referring to San Genadio.

Special Items (Relics)

Cross of Peñalba

The Cross of Peñalba is a special cross given to the church in the 10th century. King Ramiro II of León gave it to San Genadio. He gave it as a thank you for help from Saint James (Santiago) in a battle. This battle was against Abderramán III in the year 939. Today, the Cross of Peñalba is a main symbol of the El Bierzo region. You can see it in the León Museum.

The Cross of Peñalba, a symbol of the Bierzo region.

Chalice and Paten

The Chalice and Paten (a cup and plate used in church services) also came from the old monastery of Peñalba. Abbot Pelayo ordered them to be made in the mid-12th century. This was a time when the monastery was very rich and important. These items are now on display at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France.

San Genadio Chess Pieces

The "Bolos de San Genadio" are four very old chess pieces. They are from the 9th century and came from Santiago de Peñalba. They are thought to be the oldest chess pieces in Europe! Mozarabic hermits likely brought them from Al-Ándalus (Muslim Spain) to the Kingdom of León. Four pieces made from goat's horn are still around: two towers (one broken), a knight, and a bishop.