Church of Santa María de Punxín
About this heritage
The Igrexa de Santa María de Punxín stands on the site of an ancient Romanesque church. Its main façade is preceded by steps leading to a pointed arch door, highlighting the work on the moldings and the side columns. The ensemble is topped by a bell gable with semicircular arches and a stone cross. Inside, a 9th-century pre-Romanesque sarcophagus stands out, attributed to San Wintila, protector of crops and animals, according to the inscription on the lid: “HIC REQUIESCIT FAMULUS DEI”. Another inscription reads: “HIC REQUIESCIT SERVUS DEI WINTILA QUI OBLIT DIE 23 DECEMBRS 980. Pretiosa in conspectu Domini mors Sanctorum”. The sarcophagus features a low relief of a cross with equal arms and ascending lines, and inside were found bone remains, garments, and two bags of earth. This church is a valuable testimony to the history and spirituality of Punxín.
To learn more
The Igrexa de Santa María de Punxín is a very old and special church. To enter, you must climb some steps and pass through a pointed arch door, decorated with columns and moldings. At the very top, it has a bell tower with bells and a stone cross. Inside the church, there is a very old sarcophagus from the 9th century, where, according to tradition, San Wintila is buried, who protected crops and animals. On the stone there are ancient drawings and words, and inside they found bones, clothing, and two small bags with earth. It is a place full of history and mysteries.
To know it better
The Igrexa de Santa María de Punxín rises over the remains of a previous Romanesque temple. The main façade is articulated by a staircase that gives access to a pointed arch portal, highlighting the work of the moldings and the side columns. The top is resolved in a bell gable with semicircular arches and a stone cross. Inside, a 9th-century pre-Romanesque sarcophagus stands out, attributed to San Wintila, a figure linked to the protection of crops and livestock, as attested by the inscriptions: “HIC REQUIESCIT FAMULUS DEI” and “HIC REQUIESCIT SERVUS DEI WINTILA QUI OBLIT DIE 23 DECEMBRS 980. Pretiosa in conspectu Domini mors Sanctorum”. The sarcophagus features a low relief of a cross with equal arms and ascending lines. Inside were found two skulls, bone remains, garments, and two bags with earth, which reinforces its archaeological and devotional value. The ensemble constitutes a relevant example of the survival of pre-Romanesque elements in Galician religious architecture.
Location
- Town
- A Forxa
- Municipality
- Punxín
- Province
- Ourense
- Country
- Spain
The asset
- Eco-destination
- Río Miño – Ourense
- Environment
- Rural
How to get there
- Access
- By land
The visit
- Visitable
- Yes
Coordinates
- Latitud
- 42.3689
- Longitud
- -8.00082