Camino Photo of the Day: Santa María la Blanca

This rather imposing structure is the Iglesia de Santa María la Blanca in Villalcázar de Sirga. Both times I’ve passed through this town, the church was locked. It’s funny; the default state for churches in Navarra, La Rioja, and Galicia is “open”, while in most of Castilla y León, the default state is “locked tight”. Construction on this Templar fortress-church began in the latter half of the 12th century, and it wasn’t finished until the 14th century. With the suppression of the Knights Templar in 1307, it was seized by the King and was passed back and forth between various noble families until it was finally granted to the Bishop of Palencia in 1664. It’s been a simple parish church ever since.

Date: 15 April 2013
Place: Villalcázar de Sirga (Province of Palencia, Castilla y León, Spain)
Today started: Itero de la Vega (Province of Palencia, Castilla y León, Spain)