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The Parish of San Saturnino in Pamplona: The Diocese's First Mitre

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Tombs

There is a widespread belief among the general public that churches were burial sites reserved for prelates and magnates. An “ visit ” (Burial Register) for San Saturnino refutes this misconception. In fact, the interior of the parish church of San Cernin—like that of the city’s other parish churches—served as the burial site for its parishioners, regardless of their social status, until the early 19th century. Consequently, the first thing that catches the eye is the grid of burial plots on the floor, with all graves perfectly numbered and an indication of those that were endowed or doubly endowed. Alongside these graves—which we might call “common”—is a group of arcosolium tombs, located between the atrium and the church’s chapels. 

Thus, coming from the old cloister, we find in the atrium the Cruzat tomb, dating from the early 15th century. Particularly noteworthy is the relief depicting the seated Eternal Father blessing Martín de Cruzat, who is shown kneeling and accompanied by the Virgin Mary as his intercessor. Once inside the church, four tombs immediately catch our eye meeting. The Chapel of the Trinity houses the two simplest ones: those of the Balanza and Almoravid families and that of the Eusa family, both featuring interesting heraldic decoration. Far more spectacular are the two wall tombs in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, both featuring intricate late-Gothic decoration and belonging to the Laiceilla family (15th century) and the Mutiloa family (1506), respectively.  The Mutiloa tomb is particularly evocative, featuring intricate openwork in its Gothic tracery and depictions of saints and heraldic motifs supported by lions.   

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Plan of the parish burial vault, 1795. file Parish of San Saturnino.


Balanza Family Tomb, 16th century. Photo: file from the Art department of the Archdiocese of Pamplona.

aula_abierta_itinerarios_47_bibliografia

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