Jaca: The Ermita de Sarsa !

And here I am back in my beloved Spain! I have been coming here for years , initially as a stopping point between my trips from France to Spain over  Somport and Portalet; then we visit the city and even spent vacation time around the area. This is Jaca right facing the Pyrénées mountains! As you might know Spain is the No 2 most visited country in the world according to official tallies of the UN-WTO.

I have written several posts on it  ,but feel some is missing and I am trying to remedy this ommission of this wonderful quant city of Aragon. Let me tell you a bit more of Jaca on the Ermita de Sarsa or hermitage.

The Ermita de Sarsa or hermitage were transferred here in 1972, to preserved the remains of the Hermitage of Sarsa, of Romanesque origin. The original location was in Villar de Sarsa, an ancient town located on the slopes of the Peña Oroel. The hermitage was the parish church of this town, which was abandoned around 1970. To avoid ruining the temple, it was decided to move it to Jaca, and thus preserve it.

Jaca

The Ermita de Sarsa belongs to the model of the small rural Romanesque churches, being able to date back to the second half of the 12C, quite possibly in the final years of that century. Its plant presents a single rectangular nave that would originally be covered with a two-sided wooden roof, which has not been preserved. The head is made up of a very little highlighted presbytery, covered with a barrel vault and a semicircular apse covered with a quarter sphere vault. In the center of the apse a small semi-circular arched window opens and double spill that would let the light pass into the interior of the temple. The walls are built in ashlar, with sandstone from the area, and are barely decorated, except for a bevelled impost that runs through the interior.

The access door opens at the foot of the Ermita de Sarsa, in a small front body crowned by figurative modillions, on a non-preserved rested eave. It presents three semicircular archivolts, of which the exterior and interior are smooth and the central one is decorated with three rows of jaqueas balls that denote the influence that the decoration of the Jaca Cathedral had on all the temples of Jacetania area. The archivolts get down by means of a straight impost in two jambs where, despite the erosion, several figurines and palmettes are still visible.

More information translated from the city of Jaca on the Ermita de Sarsa in Spanish here: City of Jaca on the Ermita de Sarsa

Some further webpages for reference on Jaca are

The Jaca tourist officeJaca tourist office

The Huesca province tourist office in Spanish on Jaca: Huesca province tourist office on Jaca

The Aragon region tourist office on JacaAragon region tourist office on Jaca

Another wonderful architectural and historical building of beautiful Jaca. Hope you enjoy the tour.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!

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