HERMITA OF ANTIGUA

Behind an austere defensive façade, the hermitage of Santa Maria La Antigua hides an extraordinary oak ceiling made of a complex latticework of beams, tie rods and parapets. A place of worship until the end of the 16th century, the building has, in addition to an interesting Romanesque portal, a unique set of woodcarved motifs - geometric designs, human heads and utensils - that represent a concentrate of Basque culture. Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance styles blend harmoniously with local techniques and aesthetics.