Santa Maria de Taüll

Santa Maria de Taüll, in the heart of the valley of the same name, stands apart from its neighbours. The churches of Sant Climent, Taüll, Sant Joan de Boí, Santa Eulàlia d'Erill la Vall, and Sant Feliu de Barruera were built in the 11th century, like this one. Yet each is a unique construction - though the reasons are unknown. The reveals of Santa Maria de Taüll show its isolation clearly.

For instance, it is the only one of the nine to charge no fee to enter. The church does not have the extensive frescoes of some of its neighbours, but it does have a simpler charm, as a survivor from over a thousand years ago. It is the only one in the valley of Boí, which is in the region of Alta Ribagorça, which is the north of the province of Lleida in the autonomous community of Catalonia in Spain, to offer free entry. Visitors interested in seeing a Romanesque church would do well to consider Santa Maria de Taüll, though the exact reasons for its construction remain a historical mystery.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons