Sos del Rey Católico - Iglesia de San Esteban

Sos del Rey Católico is a quaint, historic town with a population of just over 600. Founded as "Sos" by Sancho I of Pamplona during the Reconquista in the early 10th century, the town changed its name to Sos del Rey Católico, after Ferdinand II of Aragon (aka "el Católico") was born here in 1452. The town is built on a mountaintop. You enter it by foot through the medieval gates, as the old walls, that surround the town still exist.

The building of the "Iglesia de San Esteban" (= Saint Steven) started already mid of the 11th century, financed by Estefania de Foix, young widow of Garcia Sanchez III of Pamplona. The church got enlarged and altered over the next centuries many times. A narthex with gothic vaults was added within the 16th century to protect this Romanesque portal from the 12th century against the weather. Just like in nearby Sangüesa (13kms northwest) statues flank the doors. There are three large ones on either side, and various small ones inbetween.

This is the left side of the portal. The statues clearly lack the elegance of that ones in Sangüesa. These may be older. The style is similar. Unfortunately most of the small sculptured inbetween are severely damaged.

The large figure to the left holds a kind of shrine or a gridiron. In case the object is a gridiron, this can only be Saint Lawrence, whose birthplace may be in Huesca. In the center is a bishop (crozier) - and the right one holds an illuminated book or manuscript. I will upload a close up.