Alaiza – Romanesque Wall Paintings and Sierra de Entzia

Culture

In Alaitza, the Church of the Assumption of Our Lady is regarded as a Romanesque landmark in the Llanada. A large part of its Romanesque structure from the 13th century has been preserved. The building has a rectangular floor plan. The semicircular apse is lower than the nave.

The preserved structural elements belong to the Romanesque form of the church, while the paintings created later form a separate layer in time. The church can therefore be described both through its architecture and through its colourful decoration, without equating the two areas chronologically.

Around 1982, the wall and vault paintings of the church were discovered. The wall paintings date from the 14th century. They predominantly depict anthropomorphic, geometric and floral forms in red and black.

The different surfaces complement one another: forms and figures appear on the walls and vaults, while the apse stands out with depictions of secular themes. The colouring in red and black is one of the recurring visible features of the paintings.

The apse paintings depict secular themes: enigmatic silhouettes in a combative stance, primitive hunting scenes and further depictions of medieval everyday life. Guided tours of the painted church of Alaitza are organised by the regional tourist information office in Agurain.

The apse depictions therefore do not focus exclusively on religious motifs. Combative stances, hunting and scenes of everyday life form the thematic elements of this area of the painting. The tours explicitly refer to the painted church of Alaitza.

Way of St. James

The Fuente Vieja - Abrevadero - Lavadero in Alaitza is a Neoclassical fountain, cattle trough and washhouse dating from the 19th century. The structure is classified as part of the heritage ensemble of the Way of St. James.

The name refers to three functions of the same structure: it served as a fountain, a cattle trough and a washhouse. In addition to its Neoclassical design, its classification also includes its dating to the 19th century. Its inclusion in the heritage ensemble of the Way of St. James adds a connection to the pilgrimage route to this classification.

Landscape

Alaitza lies at the foot of the Sierra de Entzia. The summit of Abitigarra is located in the vicinity of Alaitza.

Two different relationships are therefore given for the geographical context: the Sierra de Entzia provides the landscape reference at the foot of the village, while Abitigarra is a summit in the vicinity of Alaitza.

Museums and Summits

The Artium Museum is located in the wider regional surroundings of Alaitza. The Museo Provincial de Álava, the Museo de Arqueología de Álava and the Museo Fournier de Naipes are also located there.

The summits Aizkorri, Aketegi and Peñas de Ulibarri are also located in the wider regional surroundings of Alaitza.

The museums comprise four different institutions in the wider regional surroundings: the Artium Museum, the Museo Provincial de Álava, the Museo de Arqueología de Álava and the Museo Fournier de Naipes. The three additionally listed summits – Aizkorri, Aketegi and Peñas de Ulibarri – are likewise located in this wider regional area.

Other Places

Other places include Moreta, Zambrana, Elciego, Pobes, Artziniega, Eskuernaga, El Campillar and Murgia.

To the main travel overview: Álava.