The silhouette of Santa Maria de Balaguer

Overlooking the city of Balaguer and situated on a hill to the right of the Segre River, the parish church of Santa Maria provides the town with its characteristic and unmistakable silhouette. This large single-nave building features side chapels between the buttresses and a seven-sided polygonal apse. The roof of the nave and the apse consist of stellate rib vaults supported by corbel arches over columns or capitals. Three of these chapels serve as vestibules to three portals - one on the west wall and one on each side of the nave.

The exterior is a compact structure, notably marked by large buttresses and an octagonal prismatic bell tower. This tower features an internal spiral staircase and is divided into four floors by cornices, with a level of windows with semicircular arches on the fourth level. Recent conservation work has included the incorporation of metal structures to relieve the weight of the vaults.

The origins of the church date back to 1189, when Ermengol VIII signed a document granting land for a new church. However, construction did not begin until 1351, thanks to a donation of 30,000 Barcelona sous from King Pere the Ceremonious. While the specific construction process is unknown, records show the first two bells were installed in 1392. In 1413, Count Jaume II of Aragon held a meeting there to decide on measures during the siege of Balaguer by Ferran d'Antequera, indicating the nave was already roofed.

The final completion of the works occurred in the mid-16th century after more than a century of stagnation. The church was finally consecrated and dedicated to Santa Maria on February 24, 1558. It became the parish church of Balaguer in 1575. Following theconfiscation of church property, it was converted into a barracks and prison in 1836. Although worship was restored in 1881, the building was used as a prison again in 1923 and during the period of 1936-39.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons