While strolling in the casco antiguo (ancient quarter) we found the Iglesia de Santiago, the oldest church in La Coruna. A Romanesque-Gothic church dating back to the 12th and 15th century, with 2nd century Roman stones from the Torre de Hercules incorporated into the structure.
This church is a typical mariner's church in that the unusual wooden ceiling resembles the bow of a ship. An interesting fact the docent mentioned is that over 150 people are buried under the church. In order to fit that number of people they had to be measured and were buried standing up, shoulder to shoulder.
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| The wooden ceiling of the church |
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| The main alter contains arches with no supporting columns |
We were very fortune this church had a docent because there were so many details she pointed out, such as the grafitti-like carvings the original stone masons made as they constructed the church. They carved religious symbols such as angels, scalloped shells representing Santiago (St. James) and crosses, as well as symbols representing La Coruna, such scissors for the many tailors, boats for the fishermen and stars for the night sky.
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| The carving above is of a fisherman in his boat rowing with oars |
The mariner theme is also represented in the carvings of mermaids and mermen in this supporting column.
The statues of the Virgin Mother created by Galician artists traditionally depict Mary as very human and accessible. She is shown here as La Virgen de la Leche nursing the infant Jesus, as well as an unusual depiction of her very pregnant and wearing traditional Gallego peasant shoes and scarf.
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