Pilgrims on the Way

After our visit to the ruins of San Pedro, we returned to the church of Santa María de Viana and actually went inside. Omigosh, it was amazing. Here’s a first taste, a baroque statue of Santiago to greet the weary pilgrims. Date: 06 April 2016 Place: Viana (Navarra, Spain)

Some small patches of what used to be the interior decoration of the church of San Pedro de Viana still survive. This particular piece is set high on a wall under part of a roofed arcade that was once a side aisle of the church. Here it is in situ: Date: 06 April 2016 Place: Viana (Navarra, Spain)

This photo is looking down the long nave of the ruined church of San Pedro in Viana. This will give you some little idea of the scale of the place. With no roof and very little in the way of an interior, the ruined walls of the church are like the bleached bones of some primordial beast rising from the […]

The ruins of the Iglesia San Pedro are right in the city center of Viana. This church was reduced to its present ruined state during the Carlist Wars. Otherwise, it would be an important early Gothic building from the thirteenth century. There’s something haunting about this place, and we took a lot of photos here. I’ll try to limit myself […]

We stayed here for our night in Viana. Well, technically, we stayed above this place (in room 14), and we only ate and drank here. I kind of love that their logo is an Ecclesial coat of arms. They are, I think, those of a Cardinal, but I’m sure somebody will correct me. Date: 06 April 2016 Place: Viana (Navarra, […]

True story: César Borgia was originally entombed in the Church of Santa María de Viana in 1507, but twenty years later he was disinterred at the orders of the Bishop of Calahorra, who was incensed that such a notorious sinner was buried in sacred ground. His tomb was demolished and César Borgia was re-buried in unconsecrated ground, where his body […]

Here’s Francine on her phone, taking advantage of our unlimited data plan to look for a room for the night in Viana. Behind her is the magnificent Iglesia de Santa María de Viana. We had originally planned to stay in an albergue, but we thought that perhaps the time had come to take a proper room for the night. Date: […]

This is the entrance – the portal – to Viana’s magnificent Iglesia de Santa María. A good thing to post, perhaps, for today’s Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary! The church itself stands on a raised platform in the town’s main plaza. Three years ago, they wouldn’t let me in. This time, I would prevail! Date: […]