San Miguel Church, Oñati
San Miguel Church, Oñati
San Miguel Church, Oñati is a Gothic Roman Catholic church in Oñati, Basque Country, Spain. It is dedicated to the Archangel Michael.
History
- The original church dates from the 13th century and had one nave.
- In the 15th century, two more naves were added; the central nave is higher. The Lords of Oñate promoted this work.
- In the 16th century, Bishop Rodrigo Mercado de Zuazola built the cloister, renovated the Chapel of La Piedad as his mausoleum, and added a Renaissance altarpiece.
- A crypt was built in the 15th century (attributed to Diego de Siloé) to free space in the Chapel of La Piedad.
- In the 18th century, the main doorway, the main altarpiece, and the choir arch were added in Baroque style. By the end of the century, a neoclassical tower was built.
Description
- The church is a Gothic temple with three naves; the central nave is higher than the side naves.
- Large cylindrical pillars separate the naves, and buttresses support the sides.
- The walls were opened to create a spacious hall-type interior.
- The central nave houses the choir and organ, under a wide arch; the vaults are ribbed with whitewashed brick.
- The cloister, attached to the south aisle, is in flamboyant Gothic style; a street annexed to the church is now a fourth nave.
- The elevated altar is reached by a wide staircase; below it lies a crypt that holds burials of the relatives of Pedro Vélez de Guevara, Lord of Oñate.
- Rodrigo Mercado de Zuazola also built the Renaissance pulpit and the Chapel of Mercy, along with the cloister.
- The bell tower is neoclassical, made of light gray limestone, and designed by Martin Carrera. It features four large sculptures of the Fathers of the Church on its corners.
This page was last edited on 28 January 2026, at 22:03 (CET).