I take you back to my dear Spain again !! love it !! We came by car on our road warrior trails and saw this town of Medina de Rioseco in our radar so decided to take a look, first time, and we love it, will be back for more eventually, The town of Medina de Rioseco is located in the province of Valladolid, in the autonomous community of Castilla y León, and in the kingdom of Spain. It holds the honorary titles of “very noble” and “very loyal,” as well as the title of “city,” and is also known by the nicknames “City of the Admirals” and “Little Old India.” Therefore, here is my take on the Church of Santa Maria de Mediavilla of Medina de Rioseco !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The Church of Santa María de Mediavilla, located in the town center, is the main church and stands at the highest point in the town. Its construction began around 1490-96 and was completed in 1516, replacing an earlier church, the remains of which are preserved in the Chapel of the Palaces. Its style is Late Gothic, with Renaissance and Baroque additions, such as the tower, rebuilt in 1700 after the previous one collapsed. Inside the church, the Chapel of the Conception, aka Benavente Chapel, is considered the Sistine Chapel of Castile. It was commissioned in 1543 by Álvaro Alfonso de Benavente to bury his family. It is considered a magnificent structure, adorned with sculptures and paintings by Jerónimo Corralde and Juan de Juni. Other notable features of the church include the Baroque choir screen and choir stalls, both originally from the Convent of San Francisco. Above the entrance screen hangs a crocodile skin, donated in the 18C from Mexico by Manuel Milán, a native of Rioseco who became mayor of the city of Puebla. Opposite the main entrance feature an organ, built in 1732, and Renaissance doors, formerly located on the exterior of the north entrance. The main altarpiece of the church is an exceptional Renaissance piece.
The Church of Santa María de Mediavilla main portal, on the Epistle side, is framed by buttresses, with a segmental arch doorway and pointed archivolts that terminate in an ogee arch with cardinal decoration. The tympanum features a three-dimensional image of the Virgin, and columns topped with pinnacles flank the arch. Above, two tiers of blind arcades are visible, the upper one with rusticated stonework upon which appear the coats of arms of the town and the Admiral of Castile. The portal on the Gospel side has a segmental arch and plain archivolts, except for the central one, which has geometric decoration, resting on small columns. The third portal, Gothic in style, located in the first tier of the tower, was obstructed in the mid-19C when the screen of the main chapel and the choir stalls from the Church of the Convent of San Francisco were placed at the foot of the church. The tower, centered at the foot of the church, has a square floor plan and five sections. It was rebuilt after its ruin in the early 18C and completed between 1737 and 1738 with a belfry and octagonal lantern.
The church has a hall-type plan, with three naves of equal height, the central one being wider, and four bays separated by pillars composed of engaged columns that support pointed arches and ribbed vaults with tiercerons and curved ribs. At the springing of these vaults are plaster medallions depicting prophets and sibyls. The windows of the naves have pointed and segmental arches, with mullioned windows and tracery. At the foot of the church, on the Gospel side, are the baptistery and the sacristy, completed in 1682. The apse ends in a polygonal apse, occupied by the Renaissance main altarpiece, considered a landmark in the introduction of Romanesque art to Castile. And on both sides: the Palacios chapel and the Benavente chapel, the latter considered one of the most important ensembles of the Spanish Renaissance.
The Castilla y Léon region tourist office on the Church Santa Maria de Mediavilla : https://www.turismocastillayleon.com/en/heritage-culture/churches-chapels/church-santa-maria-de-mediavilla
The Medina de Rioseco tourist office on the church : https://turismo.medinaderioseco.org/que-ver/patrimonio-para-visitar-en-medina-de-rioseco
There you go folks , another wonderful trip to my dear Spain, This time first time in Medina de Rioseco nice, awesome will be back, eventually, Very convenient on off the A62 highways connecting to all of Castilla y Léon region, Again, hope you enjoy this post on the Church of Santa Maria de Mediavilla of Medina de Rioseco !!! as I
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
