Church of Santa María, Siones

Santa Maria de Siones, located in the Valley of Mena, part of the comarca of Las Merindades in the Province of Burgos, Spain, is a medieval gem. The oldest reference to this church dates back to 1001, although it is believed to have been built almost a century prior. In 1931, it was declared a Monumento nacional, a testament to its importance and well-preserved state. The building plan follows the standard Romanesque style, with a single rounded apse on the eastern side.

The layout is basilical, with two small chapels on both sides of the main nave. There are two entrances to the church, one on the western façade and another on the south façade. The church's interior is richly decorated with sculpture, although some of the original pieces were replaced during 19th-century restoration work. In the southern chapel, a relief represents Santa Juliana pulling the hair of a kneeling devil. The capitals show a variety of motifs, mostly demons and fantastic animals. A hanging corbel is decorated with the charming head of a character that looks out over the border.

The northern chapel has a capital with a scene of fighting knights. The apse is decorated with blind arcades on two levels. Some columns, arches, and capitals are richly ornated. Some columns show scenes from the Old Testament, such as Adam and Eve or the fight between David and Goliath. Others depict the harvesting of grapes, as well as various animals and monsters.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons