Románico Zamora

Church of Santiago de los Caballeros

12th century

This church was built in the 12th century, but had later alterations. The earliest documentary data about this church dates back from 1168.

This church is also called “Santiago el Viejo” what means James the Elder. The temple is perhaps the simplest and smallest Romanesque church of the city. It is located outside the walls, near the castleand it is closely linked to “Romancero Zamorano” (ballad collection of Zamora).

It is one of the most famous churches of Zamora, and was named after the medieval apostle par excellence: “Santiago” (James). The second part of the name, “de los caballeros” (of the knights) comes from a medieval tradition according to which, in this church was knighted Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, who is better known as “El Cid” by King Ferdinand I of Castile and in the presence of “Infanta Doña Urraca” (Princess Urraca). The Ballads, reflects this belief. The battlefield called “Campo de la Verdad”, where jousts took place, is next to it.

It has a single nave with a semi-circular apse and quarter-sphere (cul-de-four) vault, straight chancel section, and rectangular nave strictly speaking. Due to its proximity to the river and its continual floods, it was damaged.

The facades have a straight apse section with a small rectangular window. It has a broken buttress between the nave and apse. Worthy of special mention is the doorway with two semicircular archivolts and its plain structure that blends well with the austerity environment of the building. The triumphal arch is unique in Zamora because it is a kind of inner doorway and the cymas are decorated with circumscribed leaves and palmettes.

Inside the church the images sculpted into the capitals are remarkable. Some of them are very difficult to interpret. All inner capitals corners end with pine-cone-shape decorations. One of them represents the Allegory of hell, where can be seen people fornicating. Other represents the punishments of hell, other is decorated with plant motifs, other represents Adam and Eve after the original sin, the following one, shows the Expulsion from Paradise, other are decorated with animal motifs...

This church became part of the list of National Monuments in 1931.

Exterior de la Iglesia de Santiago de los Caballeros

Las fachadas presentan un tramo recto del ábside con una pequeña ventana rectangular. Tiene un contrafuerte roto en la interacción de la nave y el ábside. Es de destacar la portada con dos arquivoltas de medio punto, de estructura lisa en conjunto y que entorna con lo adusto del edificio. El arco triunfal es único en Zamora por tratarse de una especie de portada interna; los cimacios se decoran con hojas y palmetas circunscritas.

Interior de la Iglesia de Santiago de los Caballeros

En el interior destacan las representaciones de los capiteles, algunas de muy difícil interpretación. Todos los capitales interiores están rematados en sus ángulos por piñas. Uno de ellos representa la Alegoría del infierno, con personas fornicando, otro representa los castigos del infierno, otro cuenta con decoración vegetal, otro representa a Adán y Eva tras el pecado Original, el siguiente, la expulsión del paraíso, otros tratan temas animales…

ADDRESS

It is located in Santiago el Viejo Street.

To view the entire route from your position to the monument, you can click on the Google icon located on the lower left corner of the map.

OPENING HOURS AND VISITS

From 1st October until 1st March:
Friday and Saturday: from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 16:30 to 18:30.
Sunday: from 10:00 to 14:00.

From 1st March until 30th September:
From Tuesday to Sunday: from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 17:00 to 20:00.
Closed on Tuesday.

GENERAL INTEREST SERVICES

Tourist offices: 

- Local tourist office: It is located at 5, Arias Gonzalo Square. Tel. +34 980 533 694

- Castilla y León tourist office: It is located at 1, Príncipe de Asturias Avenue. Tel. +34 980 531 845

- Provincial tourist office: It is located at Viriato Square. Tel. +34 980 534 047

Local police: Tel. +34 980 531 245

Civil Guard (police with responsibilities outside towns): Tel. +34 980 521 100

Emergency telephone numbers: 112

- Virgen de la Concha (Hospital): Tel. +34 980 548 212

Bus station: Tel. +34 980 521 281

Train station: Tel. +34 980 521 110

Taxi: Tel. +34 630 630 630 

Civil defence: Tel. +34 980 536 190