Church of Santa María la Mayor (La Fresneda)

Anyone arriving in La Fresneda, in the province of Teruel, will find that its parish church is one of the village's landmarks. This is the Church of Santa María la Mayor, a place of worship that dates from the 17th century and speaks the language of the Baroque, the style that shaped much of the religious architecture of that century in Aragon and across the rest of Spain.

One of its most intriguing features is its dual dedication. The church is consecrated to Santa María la Mayor, but also to Our Lady of the Snows – two names that refer to the same Marian devotion and which local people have kept together over time. It's worth bearing this in mind, as you may hear the church referred to by either name.

As a parish church, it is not merely a building to admire but has been the centre of the village's religious life for centuries. That role explains its presence in the village landscape and the part it still plays in the community today.

For travellers with an interest in heritage, a visit offers the chance to pause before a Baroque work in a rural setting, far from the main tourist trails. It's well worth taking your time: look at the building from outside and, if it happens to be open, step inside with the respect due to a place of worship that is still in use. It makes a fine excuse to get to know La Fresneda at a leisurely pace and soak up the atmosphere of this corner of Teruel.