The façade of the church of Saint James, or Santiago, dating from the end of the 12th century, is a jewel of medieval art. It comprises three semi-circular archivolts decorated with scenes reflecting daily life in the Middle Ages.
The central archivolt is particularly interesting, with figures alluding to the twenty-four elders of the Apocalypse who are used to represent different trades, such as drapers, blacksmiths, smelters, minters, scribes, monks, judges, shoemakers and musicians, among others.
The columns of the doorway have reliefs with angels and zigzag motifs, while the capitals, although worn by time, appear to show scenes related to the condemnation of the souls of sinners and the salvation of the righteous.
Above the doorway, a horizontal frieze shows Christ in Majesty, surrounded by the symbolic representations of the four evangelists and the apostles.
All the sculpture on this doorway has been attributed to the master Fruchel, an important Burgundian architect who contributed greatly to the introduction of French Gothic style in Castile.
This magnificent work combines the solemnity of the Romanesque with the naturalism of the Gothic, creating an impressive representation of the divine.
The façade of the church of Santiago is a testament to medieval art and a point of interest for pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago, for whom Carrión de los Condes is a place full of history and beauty.
