World Heritage Photos

Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias in Spain: The Santa María del Naranco (Church of St. Mary at Mount Naranco) is an Asturian pre-Romanesque church on the slopes of Mount Naranco situated 3 km from Oviedo. The Santa María del Naranco was built as a royal palace in 848 AD and consecrated into a church at the end of the 13th century. The decoration of the church was influenced by the Byzantine style. The Santa María del Naranco was part of a larger complex of royal buildings, including the nearby Asturian pre-Romanesque Church of San Miguel de Lillo. The San Miguel de Lillo served as a royal chapel. The Asturian pre-Romanesque Church of San Julián de los Prados is situated in Oviedo, a town along the Way of St. James to Santiago de Compostela. The church was built between 812 and 842. The murals are the most important aspect of the San Julián de los Prados. The Asturian pre-Romanesque Church of Santa Cristina de Lena is situated on a hilltop in the village of Pola de Lena, 33 km south of Oviedo, on the border between Asturias and León. The Santa Cristina de Lena was probably completed in 852. Pola de Lena is situated along the Route of Santiago de Compostela. The Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias gained status as a UNESCO World Heritage in 1985.

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   Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias: The pre-Romanesque Church of Santa María del Naranco. The Kingdom of the Asturias was a small Christian kingdom in the north of Spain, it existed from 718 until 924. Several buildings of this period remain. The Asturian pre-Romanesque architecture played a major role in the spread of religious architecture in Portugal and Spain. The monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias are an World Heritage. 

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   Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias: The exterior stairway is leading to the upper floor of the Santa María del Naranco. Santa María del Naranco is situated nearby Oviedo. Santa María del Naranco was built as a royal palace in 848 and it was converted into a church at the end of the 13th century. The Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias gained the status as a UNESCO World Heritage in 1985.

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   Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias: The upper floor of the Santa María del Naranco has a belvedere at each end. The attractive rope decoration is typical of the Asturian pre-Romanesque architecture. The Santa María del Naranco was built as a recreational palace. The church was part of a large complex of royal buildings situated in the outskirts of the town of Oviedo, among them the nearby Church of San Miguel de Lillo.

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   Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias: The decorated interior of the Asturian pre-Romanesque church of Santa María del Naranco. The vaulted hall of the upper floor has six blind arches supported by columns built into the wall. The rectangular building has two floors, the lower level or crypt has three chambers, the ceiling is made of wood. The altar is situated outside the church. The altar has a Latin inscription dating from 26 June 848.

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   Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias: The adorned capitals in the San María del Naranco were influenced by the Byzantine style. There are several important decorations in the church. For the first time, a Creek cross seems to be sculpted as the emblem of the Asturian Kingdom, it was also meant as a protection against evil. The San María del Naranco was built as a royal palace and converted into a Roman Catholic church at the end of the 13th century.

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   Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias: The decoration of the Santa María del Naranco, the St. Mary at Mount Naranco, is mainly concentrated in the hall of the upper storey. The 32 medallions are sourrounded  by sculpted rope moulding, typical for the Asturian pre-Romanesque style. The medallions are similar is shape and size, and inside the sculpted rope moulding sculpted with tiny figures such as birds, grapes and animals. 

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   Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias: Santa María del Naranco, the Church  of St. Mary at Mount Naranco, is an Asturian pre-Romanesque church on the slopes of Mount Naranco situated three km from Oviedo in Spain. Santa María del Naranco was part of a larger complex of royal buildings, including the Church of San Miguel de Lillo, hundred meters away. Oviedo, the capital city of Asturias, is situated along the Route of Santiago de Compostela.

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   Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias: The Asturian pre-Romanesque Church of Santa María del Naranco, St. Mary at Mount Naranco. After a severe thunderstorm and heavy rainfall, a magnificent rainbow appeared over the town of Oviedo and the surrounding hills. The Asturian pre-Romanesque Church of Santa María del Naranco and the nearby Church of San Miguel de Lillo can be visited only by a guided tour.

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   Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias: The San Miguel de Lillo is an Asturian pre-Romanesque church near Oviedo. San Miguel de Lillo served as a royal chapel, connected to the palatial complex that also included the nearby Santa María del Naranco, about one hundred metres away. The Church of San Miguel de Lillo was consecrated in the year 814 AD. The door jambs were sculpted in the Byzantine style. About half of the building collapsed a long time ago.

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    Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias: The Asturian pre-Romanesque Church of San Julián de los Prados is also known as Santullano. The church was built between 812 and 842 AD. The murals are the most important aspect of the church. The preserved decoration on the walls and vaults shows geometrical, vegetal and architectonic motifs, on a Latin cross is the Alpha and Omega. The Asturian San Julián de los Prados is a UNESCO World Heritage.

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    Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias: The original pre-Romanesque windows on the rear façade of the Asturian Church of San Julián de los Prados. The church was built by King Alfonso II of Asturias (791-842). The church is dedicated to the Saints Julián and Basilissa, two Egyptian martyrs. The decoration of the church interior make the San Julián de los Prados unique in Western Europe.

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    Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias: The Asturian pre-Romanesque Church of Santa Cristina de Lena. The church is situated on a hilltop in the small village of Pola de Lena, about 33 km south of Oviedo. The Santa Cristina de Lena was probably completed in 852 AD. Pola de Lena is situated along the Route of Santiago de Compostela. The Santa Cristina de Lena is part of the UNESCO World Heritage: Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias.

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    Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias: The Asturian pre-Romanesque Church of Santa Cristina de Lena was built in the Ramirense style, an architectural style in the time of King Ramiro I of Asturias. The most outstanding feature of the Church of Santa Cristina de Lena is the iconostasis, a triple archway supported by marble columns, it separates the chancel from the congregation. The chancel is elevated above the floor level of the central nave.