Church of San Esteban de Aramil, Pola de Siero, Spain

The Church of San Esteban de Aramil is of the Romanesque style, popular between the 10th and 13th centuries, but the church itself cannot be dated more exactly. It was first mentioned in documents from 1240 concerning a donation of goods to the monastery of Valdediós by Alvar Diaz and his wife.

There are two theories concerning its origin; one is that it is the last remaining remnant of a monastery and the other is that it is a nobleman's church, which would have served both as the chapel for the castle and the church for the neighboring town.

The church has the classic features of Romanesque architecture; it has a rectangular nave terminated at the southern end by a semicircular apse. Sculptural ornamentation of the church includes the doors, located on the western side of the church and in the apse. The west door has a semicircular arch with two semiarches and screens that rely on separate columns. These columns are formed by shafts supported on bases that have carved lilies forming the columns' capitals, which are decorated with plant motifs. The southern section is less important in addition to being smaller although it is similar in design to the western door. The decor includes protruding sculptured heads, of Norman origin, showing various imaginary animals. There is a small central window in the apse.

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Religious sites in Spain

User Reviews

Yolita E.T (3 years ago)
For lovers of Romanesque architecture and walks, the council of Siero is a good place to visit. You enjoy nature and the beauty of the old.

Roger Smith (3 years ago)
Small, rural, Romanesque, typical.

Jose Maria Romero Fernandez (4 years ago)
Interesting rural Romanesque church. It is a pity that it cannot be visited.

Lara Lozano (4 years ago)
Fantastic church with reminiscences/influences from Zamora (Zamorano roll) and Lombards in Siero. Very nice Asturian Romanesque. A shame not to be able to see it inside.

Pisadiel (5 years ago)
Ilesia de San Esteban d'Aramil (12th century), in Aramil (Siero, Asturies). Romanesque church under the control of Don Álvaro Díaz de Noreña (12th-13th centuries). Documented as 'San Esteban de los Caballeros' - perhaps referring to an encomienda from Santiago or San Xuan de Malta, with more southern possessions in San Xuan d'Areñes (Siero) - and as 'San Esteban de Tabladiello'. Single nave, straight section and semicircular apse with an interesting apse window, two semi-circular arched doorways: the main one (W.) with two archivolts -one smooth and the other zigzag- on columns and checkered overall; the side (S.) of two archivolts - Norman Romanesque rosy heads and very closed lobes called Zamoran scrolls -, with a trifoliate leaf covering (fleur de lis), which allows us to speak of a similar model for Amandi, Llugás and Narzana ( Villaviciosa), Aramil (Siero), Ciañu (Llangréu) and Uxo (Mieres) invoice from the same workshop-; belfry and portico -retired- later. A late Romanesque Virgin -today in the Museum of the Church of Oviedo-. In the S. XVII had 6 patrons or voices ruled the temple: two from the Vigil lineage, one from the Count de la Vega, one from the Cabildo of the Cathedral d'Uviéu, one from the monastery of Santa María de Valdedios (Villaviciosa) and another from the monastery of Santa María de la Vega (Uviéu) - ceded in 1598 by Don Gabriel de Argüelles-. Burned on October 20, 1936, it was restored in 1958 at the expense of the Asturian-Mexican businessman José Martínez Canteli, in 1969 by the Carbayón artist Magín Berenguer Alonso (1918-2000) and in 1975 by the morciniego architect Joaquín Suárez Pérez-Fonseca (1920- 1992). In 1992 Annex N was withdrawn.

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