SANTA MARIA 1. Santa Maria de Porqueres 2. DE PORQUERES Church floor plan thth Romanesque church of the 12 centurycentury 1. Apse estudi oliver gràfic_08 oliver estudi 3. 2. Secondary Apses design: 4. 3. Lateral chapel

9dotze 9dotze 4. Chancel 5. 5. The Victory Arch

photography: 6. The Nave 7. The Entrance 8. Comunidor 9. 9. Cemetery 6. 10. Rectory

10.

8. Area de Cultura del Consell Comarcal del Pla de l’Estany l’Estany de Pla del Comarcal Consell del Cultura de Area

Texts: Texts: 7.

To Figueres

ALT EMPORDÀ

To Olot GARROTXA CRESPIÀ ESPONELLÀ Porqueres To França SERINYÀ th SANTASANTA MARIAMARIA Porqueres comprises different villages. In the mid-19 century, in 1833, it was founded FONTCOBERTA ST. MIQUEL DE Santa Maria CAMPMAJOR de Porqueres VILADEMULS as a new municipality. It is one of the largest municipalities in the Pla de l’Estany, with Church EXIT 5 2 BANYOLES its 34 km largely surrounding the area capital, Banyoles. L’Escala PORQUERES Its roots run deep, with the Iberians leaving their mark in the 5th century BC at the ar- DEDE PORQUERESPORQUERES CAMÓS CORNELLÀ DEL TERRI chaeological settlement in the area where, centuries later, the castle was to stand until th the time of the Ademar feudal lords. PALOL DE Romanesque church of the 12 century GIRONÈS REVARDIT 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 Girona-Nord To Barcelona EXIT 6 concentration whilst in the northern area, Usall, and in the western one, Pujarnol, there PLA DE L’ESTANY To Girona are more natural areas offering spaces with great landscapes and historical interest. The Entrance The Nave The Victory Arch and Chancel Santa Maria church is located on a Despite the notable presence of sculptural The barrel-vaulted nave has smooth walls The majestic victory arch with its two robust small hill to the east of the lake, the elements, the portal is extremely restra- ending in a simple cornice and is also very columns and large capitals perfectly outlines position being strategically chosen ined with four beautifully-built descen- surprising. It is 19.3 m long, plus an extra the two spaces of the nave and the chancel by the first settlers to avoid floods. It ding arches. The three to the exterior are 8.5 m to the apse, over 7 m wide and almost housing secondary apses – the most sacred was first documented in 906 and the horseshoe-shaped, with the first housing a 10 m high, with two win- area in the church. present-day church was consecrated standout zigzagging cover. The inner-most dows to either side. The decoration on the elaborate capitals is worth on 5th April 1182. The last renovations arch, touching the entrance door, has 22 There are further things a close look – they are exceptional. The capital to were carried out between 1957 and medallions with different sculptural stone to see inside. The unde- the gospel side, i.e., the right side of the chancel, 1960, replacing the old square belfry forms, such as a triangular bow, a rabbit, corated baptismal font houses a blessing Jesus without an aureole and and restoring the original vault. a rose, a catlike animal, a human head, a made with Banyoles traver- surrounded by the apostles with an unknown cross with flowers and an eagle, amongst tine (also known as soft stone) heavily-bearded character beneath. The one to Unlike many Romanesque churches, others. is a well-cut Romanesque piece. the epistle side, to the left of the chancel, shows Santa Maria de Porqueres catches the There is an image of the Mare scenes from Eden with Eva offering the forbidden eye when viewed from the main en- de Déu dels Dolors behind, fruit, Adam eating it and the coiled serpent – a trance and from the north-east face next to the Christ on the symbol of the devil – on the tree of good and coming from the lakeside, where the cross. evil. Some winged angels holding Christ Panto- apse housing robust and well-carved crator are, amongst others, the sculptural works seen on the face ashlars stands out. Although not visi- of the capitals on this admirable victory arch. ble from the outside, the main apse There is a 16th-century processional cross in a standout spot has secondary apses built into the thick The four entry capitals, located two to either in the chancel and, to the other side, a 16th-century image of walls which can be seen from inside side, support the two interior arches. The de- the Mare de Déu, patron saint of the parish. A suspended me- the church. The two laurels and other coration, which looks to classical art for ins- diaeval polychrome beam can also be seen containing sun and hackberries contribute to making this piration, comprises mainly floral motives with moon symbols surrounded by stars. a truly natural space with the slim bel- some animals with a shared head and invites fry seemingly framed by the woods visitors inside where the great building simpli- around the lake. The Romanesque city of the nave is genuinely surprise. building style has a perfect example in Santa Maria church, thanks to which it The oak door leads The Comunidor and Cemetery was only natural for it to be declared a to the church nave The open-air comunidor (also known as a re- teresting features at this mediaeval structure. monument of national interest as far and houses two di- liquier) shrine next to the cemetery is a totally It is also worth taking a brief walk around the back as 3rd June 1931. fferently sized pa- separate building from the church of Santa cemetery. Two huge cypress trees lead the nels decorated with Maria. When religious fervour was an integral way, with the small route around amongst wrought ironwork part of village social life, the priest would use thick centenarian trees typical in human bu- from the Romanes- the shrine to bless the four points of the com- rial areas inviting visitors into contemplation. que period. pass and protect crops from possible storms. You can not miss taking a look at the elegant In this way, evil spirits were banished. wrought iron cross on a stone pedestal to the The wooden beamed ceiling and the iron inside of the cemetery. cross crowning the roof are two additional in-