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The Monastery of San Juan de la Peña
The Monastery of San Juan de la Peña is one of the oldest monasteries that can be found along the Route to Santiago. It is located near Jaca, the former capital of the Kingdom of Aragón. Originally, it was a refuge for the christians that were pursued during the Muslim invasion. Some of the christians that escaped from the Arab troops in Zaragoza, founded a group of small chapels that were the origin of the Monastery. In the year 842 the Monastery was rebuilt by Sancho Garcés, and then consecrated.
   
Monastery of Leire
The Monastery of Leyre is one of the most beautiful abbeys in Spain, closely related to the history of Navarre. It was an uncontested cultural centre of the region.
There is no evidence of the date of its foundation. Nevertheless, the abbey is mentioned in documents dating back to the year 851. At the end of the 10 C, the troops of Almanzor destroyed the Preromanesque construction.
   
Xavier´s Castle
The realm of Navarre is a land of castles. Many forts were built in the Middle Ages, most of which were pulled down in 1516 by order of Cardinal Cisneros. Xavier´s Castles is one of the many forts that can still be admired today. The Castle-Palace, which dates back to the 10 C, originated from a vantagepoint or watchtower. With the passing of the years, the lords of the tower added different defensive enclosures that gradually gave form to the present construction.

   
Roncesvalles Collegiate Church
The most important monument along the first section of the French Route to Santiago is the Hospital-Collegiate Church of Santa María de Roncesvalles. It stands over the former hospital-church built in 1130 by Alfonso I the Battler, Kinf of Aragón and Navarra. Its construction began under the reign of Sancho VII and supposedly it was consecrated in 1219.
   
Sta. María la Real. Pamplona Cathedral
The Pamplona Cathedral, in Gothic style, stands over an earlier Romanesque church which was demolished in 1391. Its construction began in 1394 and was not completed until 1501. Between the years 1783 and 1803 the original Romanesque façade was pulled down and rebuilt in the Neoclassical style. A new section was also added to the main building.This Gothic temple has an splendid Neoclassical portal, created in 1783 by Ventura Rodríguez.
   
Church of St. Pedro de la Rúa
The church of St. Pedro de la Rúa, the largest and oldest in Estella, was built between the last quarter of the 12 C and the beginning of the 13 C. It combines the Romanesque and Cistercian styles. The church stands by the Route of Santiago, on a cliff spur that dominates the city. In 1256 it was declared Major Church of Estella. In its interior the monarchs used to swear allegiance to the laws and privileges of this noble town.
   
Church of Santa María de Palacio in Logroño
The church of Santa María de Palacio in Logroño was built in the 11 C, rebuilt in the 13 C and it was extended in the 16 C. It is noted for its spired tower, in Romanesque-Ogive style, called the "steeple" by the inhabitants of Logroño. It is difficult to determine the style that predominates in the monument, in view of the many modifications that have been made over the centuries.
   
The Church of Santiago el Real
The Church of Santiago el Real has always been connected to the history of the city of Logroño. Legend states that the temple was founded by Ramiro I, right after the battle of Clavijo. However the present construction, in the style Reyes Católicos, was begun in 1513 and the vaulting was not completed until the middle of the 16 C. The church was built over the remains of a former temple, located on a hillock protected by the ramparts to the north.
   
Cathedral of Santa María de La Redonda
The Cathedral of Santa María de La Redonda was built over a former Romanesque temple from the 12 C. In the year 1453 it was promoted to Collegiate Church, after it incorporated the church of San Martín de Albelda which provided the temple with much more space. Santa María La Redonda has been restored many times over the centuries: in the first third of the 16 C, in the 18 C, and at the end of the 20 C.
   
The Parish Church of Asuncion, Navarrete (La Rioja)
The Parish Church of Asuncion -one of the most relevant Classical monuments in La Rioja- began to be built in 1553. It stands over the ruins of two former churches that were not big enough to accommodate the increasing population of the flourishing town of Navarrete. The church was not completed until 1645. The temple has three naves, being the side aisles narrower and lower, transept and large chancel crowned by an octaedral apse with five piers and flanked by two chapels as a double transept.
 
Monastery of Santa María la Real de Nájera
Founded in 1032 by King García el de Nájera as Marian temple, convent and royal pantheon, the Monastery of Santa María la Real was declared National Monument in 1889. It was originally built in the Romanesque style, but in the 1st quarter of the 15th century it was restored in the Gothic and Renaissance styles. The irregular structure is the result of the different phases of construction, being the most outstanding elements the church and the cloister.
   
Monasteries in San Millán de la Cogolla
In the municipality of San Millán de la Cogolla, on San Millán Valley can be found two magnificent and historic Monasteries, Suso and Yuso. In 1997, both were declared Heritage of Mankind, not only for its historic, artistic and religious values, but also for literary and linguistic reasons. The Castilian language was born between its walls. These "emilianenses" Monasteries are part of the cultural route that was developed around Santiago´s Route, which is the most important vehicle of communication of ideas in all European history.
   
El Salvador Cathedral (Santo Domingo de la Calzada, La Rioja)
El Salvador Cathedral stands on the ruins of a former church. It was built in 1105 and consecrated the following year. Later on it became a Collegiate Church , and a Cathedral in 1232 and the see of the Bishop of Calahorra-La Calzada. It is one of the best examples of Pro-Gothic architecture. The Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque styles are represented.
   
The Old Hospital for Pilgrims - Parador of Santo Domingo de la Calzada
The old Hospital for Pilgrims was built by Santo Domingo with the aim of relieving the sufferings of pilgrims on their way to Santiago. To this end the saint also built a section of road in Nájera, a stone bridge of great importance spanning the Oja river and a hospice run by himself. Santo Domingo de la Calzada owes much to this hospital.
   
Burgos Cathedral
Burgos Cathedral is one of the most important monuments in Spain, and one of the most beautiful in the world. It was declared "Heritage of Mankind" by the UNESCO on 31 October, 1984, the only Cathedral to receive this distinction in the Iberian Peninsula. In this harmonious architectural work of art every corner has its importance and contribute to the beauty of the whole. It stands over a Romanesque temple built in 1077.
   
Convent of Las Huelgas (Burgos)
The Convent of Las Huelgas is one of the most famous and important convents in Spain. Since its establisment it became a social centre of great influence that lasted until the second half of the 19 C. The abbesses were all-powerful until then. The Convent was built in the 12 C commissioned by King Alfonso VIII and his Queen Leonor. They wanted a place that could house a Royal Pantheon and a retreat for women from the aristocracy and royalty.
   
Miraflores Carthusian Monastery
Miraflores Carthusian Monastery is among the most important monuments in Burgos. It was first built in 1401, when Enrique III, King of Burgos commissioned the construction of a palace that would serve as a hunting residence. In 1441 his son, Juan II, entrusted the building to the Carthusian monks, with a view to converting it into a Royal Pantheon. In 1452 a fire burned the building to the ground. Its reconstruction, commissioned to Juan and Simón de Colonia, began in 1454 and was not completed until 1484.
   
The Arch-Building of Santa María
The Arch-Building of Santa María is among the most emblematic monuments of Burgos. It is mentioned in the Epic Poem of El Mío Cid. At the time of the great Castilian hero, it was the most famous of the twelve doorways to the town. Through it passed Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar when he left Burgos to fight the Moors and when he came home to rest from the bloody battle. Its present appearance dates back to the second third of the 16 C.
   
The Palace of the Constables of Castile
The Palace of the Constables of Castile or House of the Cord is considered one of the best examples of civil architecture in Burgos. Commissioned by the Constables of Castile, the palace was built between the years 1482 and 1492 by Simón de Colonia. The popular name given to the palace comes from the motif -representing the cord that Franciscan monks wear around their habits- shown on the façade. The ornament forms a tympanum that frames the coats of arms of the Constables.
   
Church of San Martín of Frómista (Palencia)
The church of San Martín of Frómista is considered the purest Romanesque architectural work in Castile. It marks a climax in this particular style, on account of its perfect ordinance and the balance between the construction itself and the sculptural ornamentation. Dating back to the 11 C, this small church has a floor plan consisting of three naves, the central being wider and higher, a transept with a cupola on the centre, and three semicircular apses, the central being the largest.
Monastery of San Zoilo (Carrión de los Condes)
The Royal Monastery of San Zoilo is the oldest Romanesque building in Carrión de los Condes. It was built over the remains of a Roman camp and the first evidence of its existence dates back to the year 948. The abbey has kept the relics of saint Zoilo since 1047. In the Middle Ages it was one of the most important abbeys; it was the seat of the court of the kings of Castile and León and served as a meeting place for several councils.
   
Leon Cathedral
Completed in 1280, Leon Cathedral -called the "Pulchra Leonina" for its purity of forms- is the masterpiece of the Spanish Gothic. It was inspired by the large cathedrals in the north of France. It was built on the site where had stood previously a Romanesque cathedral, Ordoño II´s palace, a Visigoth church and Roman thermae. The French Gothic style predominates in the cathedral. This architectural style can also be found in the cathedrals of Santiago, Toledo and Burgos.
   
San Isidoro´s Basilica
San Isidoro Basilica was built between the years 1054 and 1067, commissioned by Fernando I and Sancho I. Both kings decided to dedicate this new temple to the cult of San Isidoro because the relics of the saint had been brought to this church. It also contains the remains of San Vicente of Avila, since 1067. The Basilica stands over the ruins of a former church dedicated to San Juan Bautista and San Pelayo of Cordoba.
   
Astorga Cathedral (Santa María Cathedral)
Astorga Cathedral is one of the oldest cathedrals in Spain. It is a fact that around 1069 a Romanesque church stood on this site that was restored many times before it was completed in the middle of the 13 C. The present temple begun to be built in 1471 and it was not completed until the 18 C. The architecture is basically Gothic, although there are some Renaissance and Baroque features. From the former cathedral only remain the Romanesque chapel, which includes a small image of the Virgin that gave name to the Cathedral.
   
Astorga Episcopal Palace or Gaudi Palace
Astorga has the privilege of housing a work by Antonio Gaudi, the most important Modernist architect in Spain, and one of the most famous in the world. When the old Archbishop´s Palace was destroyed by fire in 1886, the Bishop of the town of chocolate commissioned Gaudi the building of a new episcopal see. The construction of the Palace begun in 1887 and was not completed until 1893. The building comprises a cellar, ground floor, first floor and attic.
   
Ponferrada Castle
The Templars began to build the castle of Ponferrada, in León, in 1178. The monks of the order rebuilt a small Roman fortress that had been destroyed by the Goths. Later they covered the original rampart with lime and pebbles. By 1282 the small fort served as a protection for pilgrims on their way to Santiago. After the Order was dissolved in 1312, the castle had different owners. One of them, Pedro Fernández de Castro, had the towers of the old fortress restored, and, later D. Fadrique Enríquez, Duke of Arjona, began the construction of the Tower of Rastrillo.
   
Monastery of Samos (Lugo)
The Benedictine monastery of Samos, one of the oldest in Spain, benefited from the protection of kings and popes. Built over different periods, the abbey became a cultural symbol of Galicia. It shows a blend of the Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles. It was founded in the 6 C by San Martín Dumiense, who dedicated it to the martyrs of Antioch, San Julián and Santa Basilisa. Most of the present construction was built between the 16 and 18 C.
   
Santa María of Melide
The town of Melide, in La Coruña, was an important stop along the Santiago pilgrim route. The French route and the one from Oviedo converged at Melide. The number of monuments that can be found in the town are a testimony to its former relevance. The Abbey of Sancti Spiritus, now a parish church, contains some lordly sepulchres from the Middle Ages which are worthy of note. The church of San Pedro has a remarkable front.
   
Santiago de Compostel´s Cathedral
Santiago de Compostela´s Cathedral dominates one of the most beautiful urban areas in the world. The four peaceful squares that sorround it -Obradoiro, Platerías, La Quintana and Azabachería- add to the unique magnificence of Santiago el Mayor´s resting place. In this monumental structure, culminates the Spanish Romanesque. Its construction begun in 1075, during the reign of Alfonso VI, and was ordered by Bishop Diego Peláez, who wanted a large sanctuary that could treasure the Apostle´s remains. (view more)
   
Monastery church of St. Martín Pinario
The Monastery church of St. Martín Pinario, overlooking S. Martiño Square, is part of the historical and architectural heritage of Santiago de Compostela. It was built over a Medieval cloister and was consecrated in 1105 by Bishop Gelmírez. On the west façade of the abbey predominate the cornices, which show gargoyles, and the Plateresque front, composed like an altarpiece, with statues and reliefs. It is flanked by two tower-shaped structures, with pilasters, balconies and superior arcades.