Church of San Vicente de Arana

Church of San Vicente de Arana

The church, whose present appearance is due mainly to the reconstruction done during the 16th century, but still containing remnants of the first church, from the 15th-16th centuries, on the chancel and the choir section.

This first church had a rectangular floor plan and no transept.

The present temple is in the form of a Greek cross with an octagonal chancel covered by stellar vaults. The sacristy is also covered by this type of vault.

The doorway consists of a rounded arch decorated with geometric motifs on two moulded capitals. The double altar superposed with a decorated recessed arch is noteworthy.

Later, although still in the 16th century, the baptistery was built, open on the north side of the presbytery and covered by a ribbed vault.

The 16th-17th century tower features spans with rounded arches. There are a set of 16th century images on the lower part of the main altar, somewhat moth-eaten, and a post-medieval undecorated font.

Location

The church of San Vicente de Arana is located in the village of the same name, in the Montaña Alavesa (mountains of Álava ) region. It is 47 kilometres from Vitoria-Gasteiz and can be reached via two routes: A-1 as far as Salvatierra and then via the A-2128 and A-132 to Santa Cruz de Campezo, here taking the A-2128.