Parish church of Santa María la Mayor

The church of La Fresneda has an intriguing history beneath its Baroque appearance, which combines rubble masonry and ashlar masonry in its structure. Over time, the parish church of Santa María underwent expansions and modifications that gave it its Baroque appearance; however, its origins are much older.

On its exterior facade, the church features two identical portals with round arches, framed by fluted pilasters supporting an entablature and a niche with a broken pediment. The tower is located at the front of the church and consists of two sections with a polygonal plan. This church is a historical testament that combines elements from different periods and architectural styles.

Today, it is reserved for special celebrations, serving as a gathering point for the community on significant occasions.

The church has three naves of equal height, each divided into four bays and covered with different types of vaults: the central nave features a barrel vault with lunettes, while the side naves are covered with groin vaults. The transept of the church rises beneath an imposing dome supported by pendentives. The apse, projecting and rectangular in plan, is covered by a barrel vault with lunettes. In addition, on the epistle side, lateral chapels are distributed, most of them covered by domes, enriching the spatial complexity of the building.

The interior decoration of the church is equally impressive, with elaborate stucco work featuring Mudéjar designs that adorn the transverse and lateral arches. The pendentives and the intrados of the dome are also decorated with stucco, but following later Baroque models, creating a visual dialogue between eras. Furthermore, the pendentives display detailed paintings of the Church Fathers, adding an artistic and theological dimension.

On the exterior of the church, the facade on the Gospel side stands out, where two identical doors of a remarkably austere style are found. The church tower, also located on the Gospel side, is built in ashlar masonry and dressed stone, evidencing a solid construction technique. Its first section is square in plan, while the second is hexagonal and majestically houses the bells. Each side of the second section features a simple opening framed by a rectangle. The facade and tower culminate in a characteristic Herreran-style element, which includes a pyramid and a sphere at the top. This church is, without doubt, an architectural gem with a rich and varied decoration both inside and out.