alansykes
Veteran Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Except the Francés
For the ninth time, today I walked across the lovely old Puente Taboarda bridge (c950AD) over the Deza, following in the footsteps of other pilgrims for over a millennium.
A km later, just across the busy national road 525, is the small church of Santiago. Partly 12th century, but much mucked about. The tradition is that pilgrims should knock their heads on the door - presumably, like me, in frustration at never being able to see inside.
Outside is worth seeing. I think the tympanum is my favourite in Spain. A very simple, almost cave-painting primitive, carving of Samson and his fight with the lion. It looks much much older than the rest of the portico, and is of a different stone. Below are two very pretty moo cows, a bit like the vacas de Diomondi on the Invierno, but more weather-beaten. Inside there is apparently a fine relief of Santiago doing a bit of matamoros at Clavijo, all in early 18th century costume, but I fear I'll never get to see it.
A km later, just across the busy national road 525, is the small church of Santiago. Partly 12th century, but much mucked about. The tradition is that pilgrims should knock their heads on the door - presumably, like me, in frustration at never being able to see inside.
Outside is worth seeing. I think the tympanum is my favourite in Spain. A very simple, almost cave-painting primitive, carving of Samson and his fight with the lion. It looks much much older than the rest of the portico, and is of a different stone. Below are two very pretty moo cows, a bit like the vacas de Diomondi on the Invierno, but more weather-beaten. Inside there is apparently a fine relief of Santiago doing a bit of matamoros at Clavijo, all in early 18th century costume, but I fear I'll never get to see it.