Collegiate Church of Santillana del Mar

The transformation of the old monastery into a collegiate church - when the Benedictine rule that governed it was changed to that of the Order of Canons of St. Augustine - took place in the middle of the 12th century, when the present church was built in Romanesque style, which is the largest in the Cantabrian cornice. Its structure of three apses and three naves follows the model of Frómista (Palencia) and of the international Romanesque that penetrates into Castile through the Camino de Santiago. The sculpture of its arcade, capitals and corbels evoke the fundamental themes of medieval religiosity, in particular the struggle between Good and Evil, and the need for penance and forgiveness to be saved from the pains of hell. This message is shown through allegories and animal symbols (lions, pelicans, doves, crows, snakes, goats...) and plant symbols (apples, ferns, acanthus, lilies, vines, grapes, pineapples...) as well as some human scenes. In the center of the transept stands the tomb of Saint Juliana, whose relics are kept in the chest of the altarpiece with the coats of arms of the Casa de la Vega.