Church of Santiago (Sigüenza)

Right on the Calle Mayor, in the heart of Sigüenza's old town, the Church of Santiago surprises passers-by with a façade reminiscent of a Roman temple. It is one of those buildings best taken in slowly, as its doorway brings together details from different periods that tell much of its story.

Its origins are Romanesque, dating back to the second half of the 12th century, when it was built at the behest of Bishop Don Cerebruno, who held the see of Sigüenza between 1156 and 1167. The interior reflects the simplicity typical of the style: a single nave, with no further elaboration, designed for the parish life of the town, a role it fulfilled for centuries.

As you approach the entrance, it is worth noticing the bust of the Apostle St James, to whom the church is dedicated, and the remains of the coat of arms of Bishop Fadrique de Portugal, from the 16th century. These are the marks of a later age, layered over the medieval building, which today allow you to read the passage of time in stone.

The church was not always on its own. For a time it formed part of a convent of Poor Clare nuns, which was eventually abandoned in the 1940s. This decline was compounded by the damage suffered during the Spanish Civil War, which left the building in a fragile state.

Restoration work began in 2007 and has restored the church's prominence within Sigüenza's monumental ensemble. For anyone exploring the town, it is a natural stop along the Calle Mayor and a good opportunity to discover Sigüenza's earliest Romanesque architecture.