The Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayor of Toro !!!

Posted in Europe, Spain

We were back to my dear Spain again !! love it !! We came by car of course and took time to see new areas and old repeat with some of them as introduction to my sons and our dog Rex ! I rented a small house in a off the beaten path country town that was just perfect ! I like to continue the saga of our new road warrior experiences even if now with less in our family, This post is on my latest road warrior tour of wonderful sublime Spain.  Therefore, let me tell you about the Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayor of Toro !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.

Toro Collegiate of Santa María la Mayor front dec24

The town of Toro is in the province of Zamora, Autonomous Community of Castilla y León in the kingdom of Spain, It is located 46 km from our rental house in Velliza, 62 km from Valladolid , 79 km from Salamanca, 148 km from Avila and 221 km from Madrid. The town stands at 722 meters above sea level. The town is crossed by the roads we took, the Autovia del Duero (A-11) that links Zamora provincial capital with Tordesillas. And the national road N-122 the alternative to the above highway, and more local.

The Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayor,located at Camino de las Becerras, 1, from the 12C which in turn has the porch of Majesty, Rómanesque and Gothic. In the sacristy is the famous picture of the Virgen de la Mosca (16C), as well as a unique ivory calvary in Spain and a silver custody, It began to be built in the 12C, under the auspices of the kings of León, being one of the most characteristic constructions of the Romanesque in its transition phase. The Cimborrio of this Collegiate is part of a group known as the group of Leon Cimborrios also formed by those of the Cathedrals of Zamora, Plasencia and Vieja de Salamanca. The works extended more than normal over time, since they were carried out between the last third of the 12C ,and mid -13C. This indicates that it was built in two stages: the first, in which the side covers, walls and traces were made; and the second, in which the cover and a top with attached towers are carried out.

Toro Collegiate of Santa María la Mayor side dec24

The plant is Latin Cross, of important foundation with large ashlars, three naves of three sections with baking vaults in the header, with a gun in the cruise and roller or crossing in the center. In the southern hastial, there is a square floor tower that stands out from the set for its height. The transept cruise is finished with a magnificent hexadecagonal plant. The header consists of three interesting semicircular apses; The central is the most decorated, since it has arches and ornate vain. The northern cover is the one used to access the church. It has a Christ as a righteous judge surrounded by the 26 elders. It is one of the best samples of the Romanesque in Zamora province. The tower also retains only the two lower bodies. The noon door, which is accessed from inside the church, has a slightly pointed arc with only geometric-vegetal decoration. It has clear reminiscences to the constructions of the Cister.

Toro Collegiate of Santa María la Mayor back dec24

The Gothic -style Pórtico de la Majestad or majesty porch is reached through the collegiate church itself. It is a visually very striking set for being the few that retain the original polychromy. It tells the life of the Virgin, of Christ and the final judgment, the sacristy of the Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayor has, at present, with a small museum that has some works of art, especially flamenco of a certain entity, Among which highlights the Virgen de la Mosca of the 16C, an ivory and carey Calvary of the 17C, unique in Spain, and a silver custody of 1538, which was in London until 2005, as well as a collection of Religious goldsmith. Also, in the sacristy of the collegiate find the skull of Saint Valentin ,also preserved.

The Toro sacre on the heritage as the Colegiata Santa Maria la Mayor : https://torosacro.com/conjunto-monumental/colegiata-de-santa-maria-la-mayor/

The Romanesque in Zamora province so the Colegiata of Toro: https://www.romanicozamora.es/en/monumentos/ver/collegiate-church-of-santa-maria-la-mayor/77

The Toro tourist office on its heritage: https://www.turismotoro.com/index.php/es/toro-monumental

The Castilla y Léon regional tourist office on Toro: https://www.turismocastillayleon.com/en/heritage-culture/toro

There you go folks , another wonderful nostalgic, sentimental trip to my dear Spain, Do not know when we will be back, we sure will have this trip in our hearts forever, Again, hope you enjoy this post on the Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayor of Toro !!! as I

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

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Published by pedmar10

I am a lover of travels to Europe , Americas , Africa and Asia as well ,who like to share my experiences of the last 53 years with the world, visiting so far 81 countries; living in 6, working in 5, and Citizen of 4, speaking fluently 4 languages. I can deal with sports especially football/soccer and love music, arts, wine collector/drinker, and go out to restaurants, and just visit the world. My background comes all the way from Candelaria and Pajara in Tenerife, Spain where my grandparents came from ;not knowing each other then, to Punta Brava, west of Havana, Cuba. There , my parents born in Cuba met and later on I was born there too. 100% guanche (annexed Tenerife to Spain on April 10 ,1496). I left Cuba as many have to Madrid, Spain where I lived for 4 years. Then, move to Perth Amboy ,New Jersey USA (living there 13 yrs) ; where I completed high school, became a US Citizen, learned to drive a car, and learned English. Afterward, went to the university in Florida, ERAU, and upon graduation decided to moved there to Ormond by the Sea, near Daytona Beach, finally moving North Miami, then Hialeah, then another moved to Silver Lakes division in Miramar, Broward county, Florida; in Florida I lived a total of 18 years. Finally , moved to France in 2003 ,Versailles call me for its royalty, and working in Paris was great. It was time to seek frontiers again and moved to Brech near Auray, Morbihan in Brittany , and later move to not too far Pluvigner. Total so far in France has been 20 years, and counting. Moving average a home every 5.5 years hopefully this will be my last. Cheers All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of the copyright holder, me. No part of this work may be modified, without the written permission of the holder, me.No part of this work may be exposed to public view in any form or by any means, without identifying the holder as the author, and with the before mentioned permission.

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