Zabaldica 3

The literature that the Sisters hand out to visiting pilgrims states that the church was built in the 13th century.  So, let's say that the church is more or less 750 years old. There aren't many churches or buildings, for that matter, in Spain or Europe that are much older.  It's built in the Romanesque style which means round arches, massive walls and small windows.  The altar piece or retablo, is a later creation and is one of the styles present in Spanish churches.

Here we have Jesus at the top, Mary directly below and St. Esteban below her.  Also present are James, Archangel Michael and St. Francis.  Church art in the middle ages had several purposes.  One was to terrify the congregation with images of hellfire and damnation.  One was to incorporate pagan images and thus co-opt the belief systems that the church was trying to replace.  The churches of the Middle Ages were the Bible written in stone and glass.  Most people were illiterate and there were very few books around for those that could read.  So the churches filled the void by surrounding the faithful with images of the life of Jesus and the saints, heaven and hell and creation.  But back to the alburgue.  The Sisters think that the alburgue building is the same age as the church, 13th century.  They think that the alburgue was a medieval hospital on the on the Camino Frances.  Pilgrims would have visited the church for mass and found a bed and a meal next door.  So here I was following in their footsteps 750 years later.  Wow!