Santa María del Naranco

St Mary at Mount Naranco is a preRomanesque Asturian architecture church on the slope of Mount Naranco situated 3 kilometres from Oviedo. Ramiro I of Asturias ordered it to be built as a royal palace. It was completed in 848. Its structural features, such as the barrel vault with transverse ribs corresponding one-to-one with contraforts at the exterior, make it a clear precursor of the Romanesque construction. The exterior decorations, as well as the use of stilted arches mark the intended verticality of the composition. Its character as a civil building changed in the 12th century when it was converted into a church dedicated to St. Mary.

It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in December 1985. It was declared Bien de Interés Cultural in 1885.

A fine image of one of the most beautiful sites (and sights) in Spain. This weekend I will visit San Salvador de Valdedios. Un abrazo.

A very nicely composed beautiful result, Guillermo!