Santa Cristina de Lena
“Pre-Romanesque” is a confusing architectural term. The style didn’t appear until centuries after the Romans, so it’s not exactly pre-Roman at all. Instead, the term refers to buildings which pre-date the Romanesque architecture of medieval times, named so because of its rounded Roman arches.
![Photos Christina de Lena Ovieo Pre-romanesque](https://oviedo.for91days.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2021/11/01-Ovied-Santa-Cristina-de-lena-IMG_9525.jpg)
Further adding to the confusion is that the term “Pre-Romanesque” doesn’t have a concrete definition. There are no defining characteristics that relate the Pre-Romanesque architecture of Spain to that of, say, Croatia. It’s just a generic designation for any Western architecture that predates the Romanesque.
In other words, “Pre-Romanesque Architecture” has nothing whatsoever to do with Romans, nor with an architectural style. Maybe I’m slow, but that confused me for weeks.
The only Pre-Romanesque architecture in Spain is found in Asturias, since the rest of the peninsula was under the rule of the Moors (with their non-Western Mozarabic style). In and around Oviedo, there are many well-preserved examples, including the Santa María del Naranco and San Miguel de Lillo. A less-visited church lays about 30km south of the city: Santa Cristina de Lena.
![Photo Archive Santa Cristina de Lena](https://oviedo.for91days.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2021/11/07-Ovied-Santa-Cristina-de-lena-IMG_9520.jpg)
High up on a hill with an incredible view of the valley, the ancient church was constructed in the year 852. Those kind of dates still blow my mind: more than the length of my life squared. There’s clearly been a lot of reconstruction on the Santa Cristina, but the custodian pointed out many elements which are original, including a 7th-century Visigoth lattice which was worked into the decoration. This was a church built for the use of the king, with a royal tribune above the entranceway, and we found engravings of shells, indicating that it must have been (and probably still is) a minor stop on the Camino de Santiago.
It’s hard to find, but this church is definitely worth tracking down for fans of architecture. There’s also a Pre-Romanesque interpretation center in the nearby train station. Personally, the more of these buildings I saw, the more interesting they became.
More Santa Cristina de Lena Photos:
![Hiking Oviedo Lena Church](https://oviedo.for91days.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2021/11/02-Ovied-Santa-Cristina-de-lena-IMG_9479.jpg)
![Cloud religion](https://oviedo.for91days.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2021/11/03-Ovied-Santa-Cristina-de-lena-IMG_9537.jpg)
![Hole in the sky](https://oviedo.for91days.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2021/11/04-Ovied-Santa-Cristina-de-lena-IMG_9529.jpg)
![Church Window light ray](https://oviedo.for91days.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2021/11/05-Ovied-Santa-Cristina-de-lena-IMG_9521.jpg)
![Pre Romanesque altar](https://oviedo.for91days.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2021/11/06-Ovied-Santa-Cristina-de-lena-IMG_9501.jpg)
![Camino Shell Muscle](https://oviedo.for91days.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2021/11/08-Ovied-Santa-Cristina-de-lena-IMG_9503.jpg)
![Oviedo Beasts](https://oviedo.for91days.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2021/11/09-Ovied-Santa-Cristina-de-lena-IMG_9504.jpg)
![Pre Romanesque Architecture Arche](https://oviedo.for91days.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2021/11/10-Ovied-Santa-Cristina-de-lena-IMG_9505.jpg)
![Secret Symbols Oviedo Church Keys](https://oviedo.for91days.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2021/11/11-Ovied-Santa-Cristina-de-lena-IMG_9509.jpg)
![Holy Cristina de Lena](https://oviedo.for91days.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2021/11/12-Ovied-Santa-Cristina-de-lena-IMG_9512.jpg)
![Outstanding wood carvings](https://oviedo.for91days.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2021/11/13-Ovied-Santa-Cristina-de-lena-IMG_9499.jpg)
![dotted wood carvings](https://oviedo.for91days.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2021/11/14-Ovied-Santa-Cristina-de-lena-IMG_9498.jpg)
![Stone Columns Santa Cristina de Lena](https://oviedo.for91days.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2021/11/15-Ovied-Santa-Cristina-de-lena-IMG_9494.jpg)
Camino Buddies has made a post with a link to your blog and supports all you’re doing. Buen Camino!
Good afternoon Mike! Im Carmen, an Spanish journalist that is looking for realizing a report about Santa Cristina de Lena and the interest that is awaking in foreign tourist. I would like to hace ur view in my work. Hope u can get in contact with me. I leave u my email, waiting for ur request. My best regards.
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