Santa María del Naranco, a pre-Romanesque temple

By GerarAS

Por Igor G.M.

Por missusdoubleyou

Por Zoilo Andrés

Santa María del Naranco is a jewel of Asturian pre-Romanesque art and one of Europe’s most unique monuments. Built around 842 AD as a royal palace for King Ramiro I, its perfect harmony of volumes, sculptural decoration and setting on Mount Naranco make it a must-visit in northern Spain.

Royal Palace Turned Church

Original use (c. 842): part of a summer complex including San Miguel de Lillo, serving as a royal retreat and audience hall.
Recreational residence: no consecrated apse, its rectangular plan and vast 25 m hall suggested elevated banquets.
Conversion (12th c.): consecrated as Santa María and adapted for parish worship.

Architecture and Decoration

Plan and elevation: upper hall covered by a barrel vault with double transverse arches.
Lower gallery: nine round-arched openings flanked by sculpted columns and capitals.
Sculpture: medallions with animal motifs (goat, deer) and hunting scenes reflecting the royal forest setting.
Twin windows: flank the hall, creating raking light that enhances the rhythm of arches and capitals.

Setting and Landscape

Located 3 km from Oviedo in a clearing on Mount Naranco, the church offers panoramic views of the city and the Cantabrian range. Walking paths allow multiple vantage points of the building.

Visitor Info

Hours: year-round 10:00–18:00 (check seasonal changes).
Admission: free; audio guides available at Oviedo’s tourist office.
How to get there: urban buses L1 and L6 to Mount Naranco; free parking on the plateau.
Tips: wear comfortable shoes, allow time for San Miguel de Lillo 100 m away.

World Heritage

Inscribed in 1985 on the UNESCO list as “Monuments of the Kingdom of Asturias”, Santa María del Naranco symbolizes the pinnacle of pre-Romanesque art and the fusion of architecture and landscape.

Let yourself be enchanted by this palace-turned-church and discover why pre-Romanesque art reached its highest expression on Naranco.