How to visit Santa Cristina de Lena, pre-Romanesque jewel in Asturias: schedules

Green landscapes, pretty towns, gastronomy...but also pre-romanesque art.

The possibility of seeing the best examples of the pre-Romanesque art in Spain is, without a doubt, one of the differentiating attractions of a tourism trip to Asturias.

In this regard, you have surely heard about, and may have even visited, one of the main examples of the pre-Romanesque, such as Santa María del Naranco, riding a Oviedo.

But Asturias You find other good examples, among which I want to highlight you San Salvador de Valdediós, In the Cider Region, and Santa Cristina de Lena, in the region of the Central Mountain.

Where is Santa Cristina de Lena in Asturias

In my last trip to Asturias I had the opportunity to visit both jewels, and it is Santa Cristina de Lena which I am now going to talk to you about, which is located in the municipality of Pola de Lena.

If at first something will catch your attention about this very small pre-romanesque building It is its spectacular location.

On the side of a mountain in the valley where the Lena's Council, not far from port of Pajares, the building of Santa Cristina de Lena You will see it isolated in a green meadow on a hill.

For visit Santa Cristina de Lena You will have to walk up a narrow path where, if you are a fan of photography, you will not tire of impressing different scenes with your camera.

Curiosities history of Santa Cristina Lena

Santa Cristina de Lena It is a church built in the year 850, at the time of Ramiro I, what is known as the second period ramirense.

The original and austere exterior configuration of the building and its impressive location in what is thought to have been a sacred mountain in the pre-christian era, they will undoubtedly make you very attractive.

What to see when visiting Santa Cristina de Lena

When you enter the building, you find an original rectangular plan and two small rooms.

The nave is unique due to the separation and elevation of the altar area, which is accessed by the side stairs.

In addition, it features a iconostasis, area with three stone arches that separate the presbytery from the main nave, which is at a lower height.

The existence of this area is common in the orthodox rite churches such as, for example, those you can see in countries like Russia o Bulgaria.

These stone arches are supported by marble columns that are thought to come from an ancient Roman villa that would have been in the vicinity of the temple.

La vault The current one is from the 1893th century, although the original was made of stone, and later a wooden roof was installed that was removed in XNUMX, during the last major restoration that was carried out on the building.

A final renovation carried out in the 50s removed the bell tower and the most modern altar from the building, leaving it with a configuration very similar to that of the original building.

It should be noted that the walls of Santa Cristina de Lena in their day they were covered with paintings that disappeared with the passage of time.

Likewise, a window from the 9th century with trichora.

Visiting times for Santa Cristina de Lena

The Visiting hours of Santa Cristina de Lena They are, from April to October, from 11 a.m. to 13 p.m. and from 16,30:18,30 p.m. to 11:13 p.m., and from December to March, only from XNUMX a.m. to XNUMX p.m.

Of course, it is necessary to book the visit in advance, and the monument is closed for visitors on Mondays and during the month of November.

To make a reservation and make sure that when you get to the top of the hill where the church is located, the guide is waiting for you, you must call the following phone number: 609 94 21 53.

And also here you have the telephone number of the tourist office of the region, in the Lena Town Hall, 985 49 05 25, email, tourism@aytolena.es.

El price of admission It is 2 euros and 1 euro for children.

Map: how to get to Santa Cristina de Lena

El pre-Romanesque monument of Santa Cristina de Lena You find it next to the A-66, on the route that from León takes you to Oviedo, past Campomanes before reaching Pola de Lena , municipality to which it belongs.

Photos Santa Cristina de Lena

Here you have more photos of the pre-Romanesque church Santa María de Lena, which you can visit in the region of the Central Mountain In asturias.