The hidden church of Gumiel de Izán

The Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, located on the north side of the Plaza Mayor in Gumiel de Izán, Province of Burgos, Spain, was built over an older church, with a gothic door still preserved on the north side. The church’s Baroque façade and staircases were added later. The high altar’s retable, dating from the early 16th century, tells scenes from the life of Jesus and the Virgin Mary. The chapel of the Rosary and the chapel of Christ of the Peace are notable on the west side.

The church’s vault is of cruciform, and some crestes show the coats of arms of some patrons. The Marqués de Santillana, who was lord of Gumiel for only 6 years, left his mark on the church’s construction. The baptistery is in a chapel at the back left, with a large 15th-century stone baptismal pool decorated with twelve trilobulated arches holding relief images of the twelve apostles. The church also houses other interesting altars such as the one of San Pedro (Renaissance), the one of the Virgen del Rosario (Baroque), and the Cristo de la Paciencia (13th century).

A remarkable Romanesque statue of the Virgin Mary called the Virgen de Tremello is in the sacristy. The talla gótica of the Cristo de Reveche is also in the small museum in the sacristy.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons