Nestled within the heart of Catalonia, the historic remnants of a church known as Santa Maria de la Vansa lie hidden within the Vansa balmes, renowned for their troglodyte habitats. The municipality of Noguera has confirmed its location. Protected under the Catalan Heritage Act, the past of this hidden sanctuary remains an unresolved enigma. Swathed in vines and other greenery, its original design is scarcely discernible. Originally, it appears to have been a single barrel-vaulted nave, supported by three horseshoe arches. Two semi-circular absides, one central and one lateral, are suggested by its remains. Today, only one double-arched window from the lateral abside survives, overlooking the northern part. Inside the nave, a circular structure, possibly a cor or tribuna, Connects to the northwest angle, yet its origins and characteristics remain shrouded in mystery.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nik Frost
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