Santa Cristina de Lena

The church of Santa Cristina de Lena, situated on a hill overlooking the Lena river valley, is undoubtedly linked to the works at Naranco, although its ornamentation is noticeably cruder. It may have been built during the reign of Ramiro I (842–850) or that of his successor, Ordoño I (850–866), but in any case after the master who established the Ramirense style.

Its structure differs from that of other churches in the Asturian Monarchy. It consists of a single, rectangular nave with four small, also rectangular, projections, one in the centre of each external wall (portico, chancel and side chambers). All the spaces are covered by barrel vaults supported by transverse arches, and the structure is reinforced on the outside by numerous buttresses.

The nave has five bays, defined by the transverse arches which rest on a blind arcade running along the side walls. The chancel consists of a projecting section. Its floor and that of the last bay of the nave are raised, and are accessed via two side staircases. This space is separated from the nave by a large iconostasis comprising three arches resting on capitals and columns, decorated with rectangular openings closed by openwork latticework and a Visigothic screen.

Entry is permitted up to half an hour before closing time; outside these hours, you must ring in advance. For any visit, it is recommended that you contact the site beforehand.