Tiffany In The Shower

The Romanesque Andorra A walk in Girona

Andorra is known as a winter destination where skiers have miles of tracks available. However, it captivates me summer when the green dots the landscape, the temperature is pleasant, you can do countless excursions and some exceptional views.

During the months of July and August will offer a series of free guided tours of the Romanesque churches Andorran most significant heritage, a great tourist value for the small principality.

Although on several occasions we had been able to admire the Romanesque churches scattered throughout the different parishes of Andorra, we have never had the chance to meet their internal tour. We take for the hairs that great opportunity as we travel to Andorra last weekend of August in an impromptu decision to get away from the intense heat wave last summer.
combine visits with a trip to the mountains and relaxing walks.

As an introduction I recommend starting by Romanesque Interpretation Center found in the small town of Pal . A superb and very well done 15 minute audiovisual transports the Middle Ages to the Andorra the eleventh and twelfth centuries, stone by stone when raising these buildings were simple, sober and with little ornamentation, but of great beauty. Andorra did not find in large architectural, but small buildings not only fulfilled the religious functions but also civilians, as it was in the churches where they met the neighbors, where taxes were paid or, where the market was .

Most of these churches were the patterns of the Romanesque, with a semicircular apse oriented east toward the sunrise and the Holy Places of Jerusalem, a small rectangular chancel and nave.

Over the years, many of them suffered significant changes, particularly in the century XVII, when discovered in the Andorra iron mines and forges different opening for processing, achieving economic well-being that triggered an increase in population, which is why they had to expand some of them, as is the case Sant Marti Cortinada to nearly triple its capacity and redirected in a north-south.

Three guided tours were conducted of Cristòfol d'Anyós Sant, Sant Climent de Pal and Sant Martí Cortinada.

Sant Cristòfol d'Anyós

The church is in the highest part of the population and is privately owned, belonging to a wealthy family of the Principality.

Like most, throughout its history it has undergone several modifications and the Romanesque building is only the semicircular apse and the wall from the north.

The Romanesque frescoes discovered in the 30's, were sold to an antique shop in Madrid and from there were taken over by an American collector so that we can see are a reproduction of the original.

The sixteenth-century altar dedicated to his patron, Sant Cristòfol, was recently restored.

The bell Lombard style is not as in most of the Andorran Romanesque churches, but it is a small bell tower with a roof covered four aspects of wood and slate.

St Climent de Pal

Her beautiful three-story bell tower and mullioned windows, stands out among slate roofs the houses of the village of Pal, completing a picture postcard. The apse is square current of the XVII-XVII and replaced the original Romanesque.

interior is accessed through a porch, a good place to of fresh air. It costs too much to imagine the gatherings of neighbors in the summer sitting on the shelves of this small room. The interior is simple and features a carving la Mare de Deu del Remei (Virgen de los Remedios) XIII century and a Baroque altarpiece dedicated to the patron saint, Sant Climent.

The third church we visited was that of Sant Marti Cortinada , Which houses part of the original frescoes of the XII century, made by the so-called Master of the Cortinada .

When they began to exploit the iron mines there was a significant increase in population and the small Romanesque church soon became too small. Was extended by one side and shifted north-south through the apse to be a side chapel and being fortunately hidden its magnificent decorative painting. I say fortunately, because the Romans who had been entirely abandoned for centuries, recover interest in the late eighteenth and nineteenth century Romanticism, when you look back in search roots. And it was then part of the assets that had endured year after year for six long centuries passed into the hands of collectors, thieves and museums.

was in 1968 during restoration work, when they returned to see the light those real and imaginary beings that had remained hidden for years under layers of lime.

Unfortunately only have survived the depredations confiscations and the frescoes were hidden, either behind the altar or why they whitewashed the walls.

The guide gave us an excellent presentation and explained in detail each of the characters in the murals. It seems that the budget for decorating the church should not be low. This can be sensed by the amount of blue and green, as they were the most expensive to obtain. However, in Andorra was not used lapis as in other parts of Europe, but the arenite, another semi-precious stone.

The interpretation is fresh thinking on the role that had in Media Age the paintings of the churches, to indoctrinate the population through the images to make them understand the difference between good and evil. So, right hand, "good" hand, there are a number of religious figures and saints symbolizing good: San Martín, the pattern, which is noble and military first as a living distributing among the needy and later on as represented as high Clergue. You can also see his successor Sant Brice (Sanct Bricius) Sant Arnau (Sanct Arnalsu) and another character who holds a chalice.

On the left are represented the bad: the figure of a fantastic animal, a species of wolf trífida reptilian tongue. The archer who killed San Sebastian, a senior Clergue did not meet the standards of the church or people considered low-life as musicians, actors or dancers.

A part of the frescoes, the church has other decorative elements of great interest, as four baroque altarpieces and especially an interesting set of wrought iron bars that protect the high altar and the side chapels, separating the sacred part of the secular. The bars are the XVII century, built with local iron enriched the Andorran population.

Although we could not go inside, we came to Sant Miquel d'Engolasters to enjoy the magnificent views over the valley.

I love Andorra and I love the beautiful simplicity of the Romanesque churches. We left a lot to see and nothing next summer if we prevent it, we will visit the heritage of the Principality waiting for the Andorra Tourist Board remain true to its good initiative.