The ROMANESQUE ART IN ARAGON: JACETANIA.
By the end of the 11th century, Romanesque art had already evolved from the primitive Lombard style towards different and more complete forms.
The cathedral of Jaca is the first great Romanesque building in the peninsula. It settled the bases for a style -jaques Romanesque- that was vastly spread inside and outside the Realm of Aragón, along the road to Santiago de Compostela.
JACA.
A key stage in the journey to Santiago. It was the seat of the Aragonese Court. It keeps numerous remains of its Medieval past. The cathedral began to be built in 1076. It has a basilical plan and three naves that are divided in the interior by cylindrical columns, three apses and an ample doorway with two sections. In the west doores tympanum there is a crismon (monogram of Christ formed by the Greek letters X and P, the first two letters of the Greek word for Christ), between two lions.
This decorative pattern, first represented here, spread to all the Aragonese churches. The sculptures are abundant and very beautiful.
The richness of the inner capitals is remarkable. In the exterior we find the typical decoration of the jaques style: frieze ajedrezado (decorative pattern resembling a chessboard) with small columns and blind arches attached to the wall. In a room next to the 12th century cloister, the Museum keeps numerous mural paintings rescued from Pyrenean churches. The cathedral has been declared Monument of Cultural Interest.
Other interesting monuments:
Clock Tower or Prison Tower.
13th C. The only remains of the old Royal Palace.
Monastery of Benedictine Nuns,
with a Romanesque doorway. It keeps the sarcophagus of Doña Sancha, a 11th C. work decorated with relieves, coming from Santa Cruz de la Seros.
Santa Cruz de la Seros.
From Jaca, in the direction of Puente La Reina, turn off towards Santa Cruz de la Seros. The church (11th C.) is based on the model of Jaca's cathedral. It belonged to an old female monastery from the 10th C., which has now disappeared. It has Latin cross plan and a crossing covered by a dome supported by squinches. The head end and the tower, impressingly solid, are from the 12th century. In the doorway's tympanum the crismon jaques reappears. The monument has been declared Monument of Cultural Interest. Entering Santa Cruz we find the beautiful hermitage of San Caprasio (11th C.).
VISITORS: Information in the Town Hall.
San Juan de la Peña: In the valley of Atares, near Jaca -where a well signaled road starts- the Monastery of San Juan de la Peña stands. It is a spectaculer building hewn in the rock. Its isolation gave the monastery a legendary character during the Middle Ages and it was related to the Holy Grail. It was Aragon's Royal Vault till the 12th century. It has been declared Monument of Cultural Interest. The monastery is formed by several quarters belonging to different periods. Through the porch we enter the Councils’ Room and the so-called lower church, a Mozarabic building from the 10th century. The noblemen’s vault conserves two rows of tombs decorated with round arches and the ajedrezado frieze in the jaques style. From there we can get to the upper church (11th C.) and the cloister (12th C.), wonderful example of Romanesque art with a gallery of carved capitals representing Biblical scenes.
- VISITORS: Guide service available.
- Admission times: May-September: from 10 to 14.
2 km. away the New Monastery (18th C.) was built in the middle of a vast stretch of meadows and pine tree woods. There is an inn as well.
San Pedro de Siresa. Near Echo, the Royal Monastery was founded in the first half of the 9th century. The church that is now conserved was built in the 11th century. In the monastery of San Pedro de Siresa the king Alfonso I el Batallador (the Fighter) was christened and brought up.
Other interesting places:
- Nuestra Señora de Iguacel. From Castiello de Jaca, take the turn-off to Acin. It is a monument declared of Cultural Interest. The church (1072) belonged to an old female monastery. Predecessor of the jaques style, it is previous to Jaca's cathedral. From the 12th century several elements have been conserved: a seated image, a relief on wood and a beautiful grating decorated with spiral patterns.
- VISITORS: The keys are available in Castiello de Jaca.
- San Adrian de Sasave. From Jaca, take road N-330 and turn-off to Aisa. The hermitage (11th C.), which has recently been restored, remained buried for years.
- VISITORS: The keys are available in Borau's Town Hall.
- Bagues. From Puente La Reina, near Bailo. Parish church from the 11th C.
- Abay. Near Jaca, turn-off to Aisa. Parish church from the 11th C.
Romanesque Art in Aragon.
Sobrarbe and Ribagorza / Serrablo /Jacetania / Huesca and Somontano / Cinco Villas
Tourist Routes in Aragon
Ample your information on Aragon
If you want to extend your information on Aragon you can begin crossing another interesting route is the Mudejar, Patrimony of the Humanity, also you can extend your cultural knowledge on Aragon examining its municipal and institutional heraldry without forgetting, of course, some of its emblematics figures as Saint George Pattern of Aragon also book of Aragon.
Also Aragon enjoys a diverse and varied Nature where passing by plants, animals or landscapes we can arrive at a fantastic bestiario that lives in its monuments.
The information will not be complete without a stroll by its three provinces: Zaragoza, Teruel and Huesca and his shines, with shutdown in some of its spectacular landscapes like Ordesa, the Moncayo or by opposition the Ebro.
Also you can dedicarte to the intangible ones: from the legend compilation that also does to universal Aragon you can persecute the presence of the Santo Grial in Aragon.
Huesca |
Teruel |
Zaragoza |
Aragon |
Maps |
Fauna |
Flora |
Geology |
Fungi |
Tourism |
Mudejar |
Goya |
Alphabetical Index |
Thematic
Francisco Javier Mendivil Navarro
Jacetania. The Romanesque Art in Aragon. Tourism in Aragon. The ROMANESQUE IN ARAGON SOBRARBE Y RIBAGORZA / SERRABLO /JACETANIA / HUESCA Y SOMONTANO / CINCO VILLAS /.
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