We had fortified ourselves with coffee and now it was time to continue our visit to Estella. We climbed up to see the Church of San Miguel – exploring can be hard work at times!
The Church of San Miguel
This is a vast building whose size is emphasised by its position on a high rock in the town, ‘La Mota’. It shows architectural styles both Romanesque and Gothic because of its construction over several centuries.
Carvings on the capitals next to the main door
Inside the Church of San Miguel
The church was quiet, and soared upwards; I am almost always calmed when I walk into buildings like this.
Martín Pérez de Eulat commissioned the altarpiece dedicated to St Helena in the 15th century for the family tomb in the church. ‘Martín Périz de Eulate was a prominent figure at the court of Charles III the Noble, for whom he was mazonero, a position he held even in the early years of the reign of Doña Blanca. He was a contractor for the palace of Olite, which brought him wealth and a higher social status, and was the head of a lineage that would become one of the most influential nobility in Estella and the kingdom. In the tomb he wears the attire of a knight, with armour and sword, and is marked with his heraldic coat of arms.’1
The Streets and Market Day
The streets were busy – it was market day – but they were also tidy and clean as we made our way towards the market square.
And so back to Olite
And then it was time to return to Olite.
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