Inspiring Humility

 In the town of Sasamón, in the Province of Burgos, La Iglesia de Santa Maria la Real was begun in the middle of the 13th century. With donations from Alfonso VII, the primitive church was replaced by the present building, erected over the next four centuries. It has Romanesque elements (western fa?ade and the nave of the epistle), but its predominant style is Gothic. Sasamón was the episcopal seat in the medieval era. Later, it was part of the episcopal seat of Burgos and, for a time, the bishops of Burgos were called bishops of Burgos and Sasamón. In the 15th century the cloister was realized and is considered to be the work of Juan de Colonia. Circa 1500, the southern nave and the entry portal of San Miguel were added.

Unfortunately, we were unable to enter the church and had to limit our examination to the exterior. With the fading western light, the statuary and details were illuminated in a breathtaking golden radiance with deep shadows. As we finished our photography and headed back to the plaza, the rising moon was centered over the statue of Christ on the portal to the church yard, forming a perfect terminus to the decorative spheres. The experience was inspiring and incredibly humbling. Nothing we architects can create today comes close to the magnificence and permanence of these structures.

At Citadel we have dedicated our practice to preserving the past, so that future generations can be inspired by the passion and craft that was summoned to create such humbling edifices. It is time we brought back the tradition of the Grand Tour to architectural graduates. We firmly believe that if young architects genuinely experience these buildings, they can not avoid becoming better at their profession and more respectful of their past. From that, we all benefit.