San Caprasio

San Caprasio.

San Caprasio is a church in Santa Cruz de la Serós, Jacetania, Spain, in First Romanesque style.

History

The church is dedicated to St. Caprasius, a 4th-century Gaulish-Roman saint connected to the pilgrims who, during the Middle Ages, ran the Way of Santiago. The town of Santa Cruz de la Serós was located some 3 km (2 mi) from the route.

It was erected in the early 11th-century in Lombard-Romanesque style, perhaps with support of artists and craftsmen from northern Italy. In 1089 the diocese of Jaca gave the church to monastery of San Juan de la Peña, which, for some time, converted it into a priorate.

Architecture

The church did not undergo substantial modifications since its construction in the 11th century, with the exception of the 12th century bell tower, which is however separated from the interior.

The main body, in stone, has a single nave, with two cross vaults. The apse, of small size, is surmounted by a barrel vault and sided by fake arcades and three windows. Fake arcades and columns are also present on the external perimeter.

Sources

• Aramendía, José Luis (2002). El Romanico en Aragón. Zaragoza: Ediciones Leyere.