On Friday we left for Burgos, but on the way we stopped by two small cities: Villalcázar de Sirga and Frómista. Along with León and Burgos, these cities are a few of the many that are strewn along the pilgrim's trail that stretches from France to the Galician city of Santiago de Compostela. Every year thousands of men and women walk, ride bikes or move on buses along the trail with some goal in mind, whether it be for a spiritual renewal, an escape from the pressures of the world or to experience the beauty of the countryside. For us it was an opportunity to see two of the country's architectural jewels.
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The church at Frómista is the finest and purest example of Romanesque architecture (1066 A.D.). One of the interesting features of the exterior are the dozens of "canicillos" that decorate rooflines, the porticos, and windows. The "canecillos" are representations of demons, animals, and humans.
In the window wells of the church at Frómista one also finds interesting scenes from medieval Spain including a wedding and knights on their horses (below).
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Villalcázar de Sirga also has an important architectural jewel, an early Gothic church (13th century). Simpler in style, yet larger and more imposing, the church dominates the city's landscape with its cubic buttresses and soaring arched entrance.
Within the entrance to the Church is a beautifully detailed parallel reliefs located above the timpanum of the door represents the Virgin Mary and Christ (center first row) and the Christ in Glory (center second row):
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