Emblematic building in the social and religious life of Casalarreina.
The Church of San Martín was built between the 16th and 18th centuries. In 1533, construction began with the sanctuary, the cross and the first span of the church nave. Later, at the end of the 16th century, the rest of the nave was built; the lower sections of the tower and the vestry were built at the beginning of the 17th century. During the 18th century, the upper sections of the tower were built, along with the Chapel of the Gospel.
ADDRESS: Plaza San Martín, 3, 26230 Casalarreina, La Rioja – How to get »
TELEPHONE: 941 324 151
The plan of the church is formed by a nave of three spans, the crosspiece, an octagonal sanctuary, the chapel and the vestry. Its domes with star-shaped vaulting stand out, alongside its south-facing doorway, where there is a pelota court with an image of San Martín, to whom the parish church is dedicated. Its impressive tower is made up of three bodies and is built in ashlar stone, like the rest of the building.
In its presbytery, the high altarpiece is outstanding. It is Rococo in style, laid out by Fernando González de Lara and built by Tomás Díez de Mata in 1789, although it incorporates certain Romanesque elements of an earlier work. Also, the church has very interesting Romanesque carvings made by Lázaro de Leiva.
This undeniable historical and artistic value is added to by its role as a fundamental building in the life of the population of Casalarreina from the earliest days of its construction in the 16th century. The Parish Archives contain baptism information from 1535, confirmations since 1766, and marriages and deaths since 1638, demonstrating the important social function of the church for more than four centuries.
