The Leaning Church: Santa María a Real de Sar

First built in the middle of the 12th century and likely finished in the early 13th, the Church of Santa María a Real de Sar in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, is a shining example of Romanesque architecture. The workshop that completed the church and the cloister shows a clear influence of Master Mateo.

Its construction on marshy ground on the banks of the Sar river is evident in its distinctive leaning walls. To prevent the building from collapsing, a pair of buttresses were erected on either side in the 18th century, which went on to become one of the most striking features of the structure.

The church was declared Bien de Interés Cultural in 1895 and remains one of the best examples of Romanesque architecture in the city, along with the cathedral.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons