Church of San Julián de los Prados

The pre-Romanesque church of San Julián de los Prados is the oldest and largest of the pre-Romanesque buildings that still remain. Built during the reign of Alfonso II the Chaste (791-842), it was dedicated to San Julián and his wife Santa Basilisa. In 896 it was donated to the cathedral of San Salvador together with its palaces, baths and tricliniums by Alfonso III the Great. It has a Latin basilica plan with three naves, a transept formed by a large transversal nave, a tripartite chevet with three square chapels covered with barrel vaults, a portico at the base and side rooms.

Inside, the naves are separated by semicircular arches on square pillars. The central nave is separated from the transept by a toral arch on either side of which there are two stone arched openings. The naves and the transept are covered with a wooden frame, while the chapels are covered with a barrel vault. Above the central chapel is an enclosure with access from the outside through a mullioned window with three brick arches on two small marble columns. The paintings that decorate the stucco that plastered the entire interior of the walls and vaults, which are derived from Roman ornamental motifs, are particularly noteworthy, as are the blind arches that run around the central apse, and the latticework that closes the openings (only one of which is original).

Photography and/or filming inside is prohibited. Duration of visits 30 min. Maximum capacity 15 people per visit. Visit times are subject to unforeseen changes due to extraordinary celebrations. Advance booking required for groups(visitasantullano1@gmail.com).