Daroca: Saint Mary of the Sacred Corporals

It would be a true affront to say goodbye to a town as emblematic as Daroca without even taking a look and recording for posterity at that authentic primordial center where the entire spiritual framework of this beloved Aragonese town revolves, which is, without a doubt, its most important and, of course, relevant church: the same one, which, as noted in previous articles, also has a Gate of Forgiveness at the service of pilgrims, Saint Mary of the Sacred Corporals.

Little or nothing remains, it is true, of the original church, which was built well into the 12th century in a Romanesque architectural style very similar to the neighboring church of Saint Michael, where we had the opportunity to take a look at its magnificent Gothic paintings, which, depicting the Coronation of the Virgin, are richly accompanied by a court of angels carrying musical instruments of the period, which, in themselves, are extremely informative about the importance of music and the instruments characteristic of the medieval period. In fact, subsequent modifications, carried out from the 15th century onwards, completely altered its original appearance, transforming it into a strange architectural hybrid, which, after all, does not leave the artistic palate indifferent, especially when one enters the interior and pauses, awestruck, at the fantastic spectacle of the works of art housed there.

The main one, of course, is none other than the Chapel of the Holy Corporals: a masterpiece, which, although it is supposed to be initially due to the contribution of King John II, those who truly became its patrons were none other than the Catholic Monarchs, Isabella and Ferdinand, the main architect being Juan de la Huerta, apparently a son of Daroca herself, who also worked with other foreign artists, such as Sluter, in France, bringing part of the magnificent Aragonese artistic style to those lands.

Such a magnificent work, as could not be otherwise, was created with the intention of housing the sacred relics, that is, the Holy Corporals. These, like similar objects found in important places associated with the Saint James Way, such as O Cebreiro in Lugo and the Church of Saint Peter in the Palencia town of Frómista—the birthplace, moreover, of Saint Telmo—constitute some of the most well-known and venerated "Grail" miracles par excellence of what could well be called "Magical Spain," if by this definition we mean the traditional and mysterious Spain, which still has so many interesting things to offer.

In addition to this magnificent work of art, the Church of Saint Mary of the Sacred Corporalsis also a veritable museum of Sacred Art, where you can admire a large number of relevant artistic elements, inviting you to a first-rate artistic adventure, essential for all art lovers in general.

NOTICE: Both the text and the accompanying photographs are my exclusive intellectual property and are therefore subject to my Copyright.