San Miguel de Lillo
San Miguel de Lillo is one of the great works of Asturian Pre-Romanesque architecture. It was built during the reign of Ramiro I of Asturias (842–850), on the slopes of Monte Naranco, a short distance from Santa María del Naranco.
San Miguel de Lillo · Monte Naranco, Oviedo
The church of the royal complex
San Miguel de Lillo was built during the reign of Ramiro I (842–850) on the slopes of Monte Naranco, a short distance from Santa María del Naranco. It formed part of the same royal complex and was conceived as a church from the outset.
Medieval sources associate the construction of the church and the royal buildings on Monte Naranco with Ramiro I. The complex is traditionally considered to have been consecrated in the year 848.
A building only partially preserved
The original church had a basilican plan with three naves, separated by arcades resting on columns, and a tripartite east end. A collapse during the Middle Ages destroyed approximately two thirds of the original building.
What survives today is mainly the western section: the vestibule, the royal gallery above it and the first bay of the naves. Archaeological excavations have made it possible to reconstruct the ground plan of the original church.
Architecture and decoration
The church is notable for the verticality of its proportions and for its complex system of barrel vaults. One particularly significant feature is the use of columns to support the arcades that separated the naves, an unusual solution in Asturian architecture.
It also preserves important sculptural decoration. Particularly noteworthy are the entrance door jambs with figurative reliefs, together with capitals, bases and remains of stone latticework. Traces of mural painting also survive inside.
San Miguel de Lillo, World Heritage Site
San Miguel de Lillo forms part of the “Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias” inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Together with Santa María del Naranco, it was among the Asturian monuments included in the original 1985 inscription.
Location and visit
Address: Avenida de los Monumentos, Monte Naranco · 33012 Oviedo.
Location: it is only a few minutes’ walk from Santa María del Naranco, making it easy to visit both monuments on the same route.
Visits: access to the interior is subject to opening hours, capacity limits and visiting arrangements that may vary according to the time of year. It is advisable to check up-to-date information before travelling.