SANTA MARIA DE PORQUERESRomanesque church of the 12th century

SANTA MARIA DE PORQUERESRomanesque church of the 12th century

Porqueres comprises different villages. In the mid-19th century, in 1833, it was founded as a new municipality. It is one of the largest municipalities in the Pla de l’Estany, with its 34 km2 largely surrounding the area capital, Banyoles. Its roots run deep, with the Iberians leaving their mark in the 5th century BC at the ar-chaeological settlement in the area where, centuries later, the castle was to stand until the time of the Ademar feudal lords. History has made Porqueres a municipality with irrefutable roots. Alongside Porqueres, the other villages comprising the municipality are Miànigues, Merlant, Mata, Les Pedre-res, Pujarnol and Usall. In the southern Mata area, there is a major urban and industrial concentration whilst in the northern area, Usall, and in the western one, Pujarnol, there are more natural areas offering spaces with great landscapes and historical interest.

Porqueres

1. Apse

2. Secondary Apses

3. Lateral chapel

4. Chancel

5. The Victory Arch

6. The Nave

7. The Entrance

8. Comunidor

9. Cemetery

10. Rectory

8.

7.

9.

3.

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4.

5.

10.

6.

Santa Maria de Porqueres Church floor plan

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SANTA MARIA DE PORQUERESRomanesque church of the 12 century

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PLA DE L’ESTANY

GIRONÈS

GARROTXA

ALT EMPORDÀ

To Girona

To Barcelona

Girona-Nord

L’Escala

To França

To Figueres

To Olot

ST. MIQUEL DECAMPMAJOR

SERINYÀ

ESPONELLÀCRESPIÀ

FONTCOBERTA

VILADEMULS

BANYOLES

CORNELLÀDEL TERRI

CAMÓS

PALOL DEREVARDIT

PORQUERES

Santa Maria de PorqueresChurchChurch

EXIT 5

EXIT 6

Santa Maria church is located on a small hill to the east of the lake, the position being strategically chosen by the first settlers to avoid floods. It was first documented in 906 and the present-day church was consecrated on 5th April 1182. The last renovations were carried out between 1957 and 1960, replacing the old square belfry and restoring the original vault.

Unlike many Romanesque churches, Santa Maria de Porqueres catches the eye when viewed from the main en-trance and from the north-east face coming from the lakeside, where the apse housing robust and well-carved ashlars stands out. Although not visi-ble from the outside, the main apse has secondary apses built into the thick walls which can be seen from inside the church. The two laurels and other hackberries contribute to making this a truly natural space with the slim bel-fry seemingly framed by the woods around the lake. The Romanesque building style has a perfect example in Santa Maria church, thanks to which it was only natural for it to be declared a monument of national interest as far back as 3rd June 1931.

The Entrance The Nave The Victory Arch and ChancelSanta Maria church is located on a small hill to the east of the lake, the position being strategically chosen by the first settlers to avoid floods. It was first documented in 906 and the present-day church was consecrated on 5th April 1182. The last renovations were carried out between 1957 and 1960, replacing the old square belfry and restoring the original vault.

Unlike many Romanesque churches, Santa Maria de Porqueres catches the eye when viewed from the main en-trance and from the north-east face coming from the lakeside, where the apse housing robust and well-carved ashlars stands out. Although not visi-ble from the outside, the main apse has secondary apses built into the thick walls which can be seen from inside the church. The two laurels and other hackberries contribute to making this a truly natural space with the slim bel-fry seemingly framed by the woods around the lake. The Romanesque building style has a perfect example in Santa Maria church, thanks to which it was only natural for it to be declared a monument of national interest as far back as 3rd June 1931.

Despite the notable presence of sculptural elements, the portal is extremely restra-ined with four beautifully-built descen-ding arches. The three to the exterior are horseshoe-shaped, with the first housing a standout zigzagging cover. The inner-most arch, touching the entrance door, has 22 medallions with different sculptural stone forms, such as a triangular bow, a rabbit, a rose, a catlike animal, a human head, a cross with flowers and an eagle, amongst others.

The four entry capitals, located two to either The four entry capitals, located two to either side, support the two interior arches. The deside, support the two interior arches. The de-coration, which looks to classical art for inscoration, which looks to classical art for ins-piration, comprises mainly floral motives with piration, comprises mainly floral motives with some animals with a shared head and invites some animals with a shared head and invites visitors inside where the great building simplivisitors inside where the great building simpli-city of the nave is genuinely surprise.city of the nave is genuinely surprise.

The oak door leads The oak door leads to the church nave to the church nave and houses two diand houses two di-fferently sized pafferently sized pa-nels decorated with nels decorated with wrought ironwork wrought ironwork from the Romanesfrom the Romanes-que period. que period.

The barrel-vaulted nave has smooth walls ending in a simple cornice and is also very surprising. It is 19.3 m long, plus an extra 8.5 m to the apse, over 7 m wide and almost 10 m high, with two win10 m high, with two win-dows to either side.

There are further things to see inside. The unde-corated baptismal font made with Banyoles travermade with Banyoles traver-tine (also known as soft stone) tine (also known as soft stone)

is a well-cut Romanesque piece. is a well-cut Romanesque piece. There is an image of the Mare There is an image of the Mare

de Déu dels Dolors behind, de Déu dels Dolors behind, next to the Christ on the next to the Christ on the

cross. cross.

The majestic victory arch with its two robust columns and large capitals perfectly outlines the two spaces of the nave and the chancel housing secondary apses – the most sacred area in the church.

The decoration on the elaborate capitals is worth a close look – they are exceptional. The capital to the gospel side, i.e., the right side of the chancel, houses a blessing Jesus without an aureole and surrounded by the apostles with an unknown heavily-bearded character beneath. The one to the epistle side, to the left of the chancel, shows scenes from Eden with Eva offering the forbidden fruit, Adam eating it and the coiled serpent – a symbol of the devil – on the tree of good and evil. Some winged angels holding Christ Panto-crator are, amongst others, the sculptural works seen on the face of the capitals on this admirable victory arch.

There is a 16th-century processional cross in a standout spot in the chancel and, to the other side, a 16th-century image of the Mare de Déu, patron saint of the parish. A suspended me-diaeval polychrome beam can also be seen containing sun and moon symbols surrounded by stars.

The Comunidor and CemeteryThe open-air comunidor (also known as a reThe open-air comunidor (also known as a re-liquier) shrine next to the cemetery is a totally liquier) shrine next to the cemetery is a totally separate building from the church of Santa separate building from the church of Santa Maria. When religious fervour was an integral Maria. When religious fervour was an integral part of village social life, the priest would use part of village social life, the priest would use the shrine to bless the four points of the comthe shrine to bless the four points of the com-pass and protect crops from possible storms. pass and protect crops from possible storms. In this way, evil spirits were banished. In this way, evil spirits were banished. The wooden beamed ceiling and the iron The wooden beamed ceiling and the iron cross crowning the roof are two additional incross crowning the roof are two additional in-

teresting features at this mediaeval structure.It is also worth taking a brief walk around the cemetery. Two huge cypress trees lead the way, with the small route around amongst thick centenarian trees typical in human bu-rial areas inviting visitors into contemplation. You can not miss taking a look at the elegant wrought iron cross on a stone pedestal to the inside of the cemetery.