Puente la Reina - Iglesia de Santiago

Puente la Reina ( aka "Gares") was an important place in medieval times, as here the "Camino Aragonés" joined the "Camino Francés". The pilgrims having crossed the Pyrenees via the Somport met their collegues, who had used the Roncevaux Pass.

A bridge over the Rio Arga gave the name to the town. It was built within the 11th century, commissioned either by Doña Mayor, wife of Sancho III, or by Doña Estefanía, wife of García III of Navarra.

The "Iglesia de Santiago" is located on the Rua Mayor, right in the center of Puente la Reina. The church was built within the 12th century, but rebuilt about 3 centuries later and so mixed Romanesque and Gothic architecture. The masterly carved late Romanesque portal shows Moorish influence.

There are five unfortunately very weathered archivolts. Here are details from two of them. The lower one depicts fish, the upper may depict (left) a centaur (?), two humanoids with strange tails, holding spears and a musician playing a stringed instrument (vielle) with a bow. He is as well equipped with a long tail.