Parish church of Santa María la Mayor

The parish church of Mazaleón, dedicated to Santa María la Mayor, displays a blend of architectural styles that reflect the various extensions and modifications carried out throughout its history. The original construction dates from the mid-14th century and consisted of a single nave, the polygonal apse with a ribbed vault of seven ribs, and the three bays of the central nave with a simple ribbed vault, following the Gothic style typical of the period in the comarca. This first building was under the jurisdiction of the archbishopric of Zaragoza, whose incumbent was the Lord of the town.

In the 15th century a defensive tower was added adjoining the apse, which is still preserved, and another tower was possibly also built on the façade, of which a corbel can be seen.

In the 16th century the church was extended with the construction of the Epistle nave, and the façade was reformed, which included the construction of a bell gable at the top and the superimposition of a Renaissance portal over the original Gothic-style one.

Later, in the 18th century, a further extension was carried out with the construction of the Gospel nave in Baroque style, adding another layer of complexity and architectural richness to the whole.

It is quite unusual to find a church reformed in the 18th century that, surprisingly, has no altarpiece. Can you imagine what happened?

This is due to the tragic events that took place during the Spanish Civil War, at which point the parish church of Santa María la Mayor was dismantled. During this period, all the altarpieces and the valuable statuary housed inside were destroyed, leaving an indelible mark on its artistic heritage.

These successive transformations and the coexistence of various architectural styles make the church of Santa María la Mayor in Mazaleón a singular building that reflects the evolution of religious architecture over the centuries in the Matarraña region.