Parish church of Santa María La Mayor

The parish church of Santa María La Mayor, an architectural jewel of Peñarroya de Tastavins, rises majestically in the Plaza Mayor, marking one of its main sides. This imposing rectangular building is a clear example of Classicism in the Matarraña region, inviting visitors to contemplate its details and history.

The church is organised into three main naves, masterfully separated by solid pillars supporting round-arch transverse ribs. The crossing, notably wider, ends in a flat chevet, while the side naves, of lesser height and width, terminate in carefully integrated chapels. An impressive dome above the crossing becomes the main source of light, lit by eight windows strategically placed in the lunettes, creating an atmosphere of solemnity and contemplation.

The interior of the church displays an exquisite Classicist style. Engaged pilasters with composite capitals support a moulded entablature, above which the round arches that articulate the spaces open out. The decoration is a display of elegance, with stucco work and a subtle chromatic interplay in grey, white and sepia tones that enhance the beauty of the whole without overwhelming it, offering a serene and harmonious visual experience.

The façade of the church, located at the gable end, is considered one of the most outstanding examples of religious architecture in the area, presenting a distinctive mixtilinear profile. The main entrance is framed by a large round arch and a doorway structured in two sections, separated by an entablature. The door, with a flat lintel design, is flanked by pilasters on both sections, while in the upper section a niche, currently empty, awaits the image that will preside over it.

The bell tower, an unmistakable feature of the Peñarroya skyline, stands on the Epistle side, near the foot of the church. Built with great care in ashlar masonry, it consists of three sections: the first two with a square plan and the upper one, of surprising transition, with an octagonal form. This distinctive tower not only fulfils its practical function, but also adds aesthetic and symbolic value to the architectural ensemble of the church.

In the 18th century, two important monuments in Peñarroya were built: the church and the new Baroque hermitage at the Sanctuary of the Virgen de la Fuente.

At the time of its construction, there were already two other churches in the village, located in the upper part. However, on the one hand, the old church of la Mola (13th century) was very remote and too dilapidated to continue in use, and on the other, that of San Miguel (14th century) was too small. This, combined with the growth of the urban centre down the hillside and the economic prosperity of the village, led to the construction of this new church.

The foundation stone was laid in 1727, in a ceremony that included a procession departing from the church of San Miguel. Construction was entrusted to master builder Ángel Cólera and was completed in 1759.

It is a work of late Renaissance style, though with many Baroque elements, such as the paintings in its interior and the bell tower. It is a church with three naves covered with saucer vaults and a crossing with a dome on a drum. It is built of rubble masonry and ashlar masonry, and two elements stand out above all: the façade and the tower.

During the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), the organ, the main altarpiece and most of the rest of the interior decoration were destroyed, and the building was used as a warehouse by the anarcho-syndicalist Collective.