Access to the interior of the temple

We are in the centre of the foot narthex. It is a wide transverse nave, divided into three sections that reproduce the interior dimensions of the naves. The vault is a barrel vault reinforced by powerful, bent sashes.

Each nave has a semicircular profile doorway; in the image we can see the central one, which is larger and decorative development . It is organised with a tapering doorjamb, a moulded arch and two small columns with interlaced capitals and a mask with stems that emerge from its mouth. Later we will see a detail of a similar capital.

In the background, the interior of the church reveals a singular architectural structure, with an almost twin and concentric visual definition. This is the door that gives access to the interior chapel of San Miguel, in the middle of the main nave. Also from profile semicircular, sample central archivolt, with a central archivolt with a moulded arch, on two angled columns. Its capitals, also decorated with eminently vegetal motifs, show a high quality workmanship. From an artistic point of view, it is artistically united with the door at the foot and the narthex; it is also united with the church of Santa María de Zamartze, at the foot of the mountain.

And in the background, in the centre of the photograph, we can see the physical representation of Saint Michael, with an iconography as ancient as it is peculiar. It is time to talk about him, because Saint Michael, here, at the top of the mountain, is the centre of everything.