Puntos de Interés
Culture
San Juan de Priorio Church
In the Council of Oviedo, right on the border between Priorio and Las Caldas, stands a jewel of Asturian Romanesque architecture: the Church of San Juan. Although it belongs to the parish of Priorio, it is so close to Las Caldas that both localities consider it their own.
The origin of this building dates to the late 7th or early 8th century, making it one of the oldest churches in the area. Throughout its history, elements have been added that have enriched its structure: the belfry from 1777, the side chapels from 1895, the porticoes at the foot from 1926 and the baptistery from 1930.
It was declared a Historic-Artistic Monument on 1 June 1965. One of its greatest treasures is the decorated tympanum of the portal featuring the Pantocrator - the image of Christ seated on his throne, with his right hand raised in blessing and holding the Gospel in the other - and the Tetramorph, made up of the symbolic figures of the four evangelists: the lion (Mark), the bull (Luke), the eagle (John) and the man (Matthew).
Architecturally, the church preserves very valuable elements. The original building is recognisable in the straight main nave with a semicircular apse. The portal is protected by a portico supported by eight columns, two of which have carvings of the evangelists and capitals with plant motifs. The exterior has corbels with a wide variety of ornamental motifs.
The interior is equally impressive. A semicircular triumphal arch with foliate capitals marks the entrance to the space covered by vaults.