Atrium of the Basilica of San Prudencio (Armentia)

Two milestones mark the artistic accounts of this era in Álava: the start of evangelisation, in the Middle Ages, and the passage of the pilgrims on the Road to Santiago. From the first, there are remains of the hermit life in MANMADE CAVES such as those of Faido, Laño, Marquínez, Corro, etc.

From the second, there are Pre-Romanesque HERMITAGES, such as that of Faido, excavated in the rock and decorated with beautiful pictures, that of Zalduondo or the early Romanesque example of San Martín de Lantarón (Sobrón). There are also dozens of Romanesque HERMITAGES distributed around Álava.

The patron saints of the province are represented in two Romanesque treasures from the 12th century, both in La Llanada: the Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de Estíbaliz, (Villafranca) with a richly decorated façade and beautiful capitals inside, and the Basilica of San Prudencio (Armentia), which has a portico where you can see the old Romanesque ornamentation (tympanums, columns, relief work showing the Annunciation and the Life of Christ, etc.).

Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de Estíbaliz and detail of capitals (Villafranca)

An outstanding example of the transition, is Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Tuesta, with seven beautifully worked archivolts around the main doorway and a magnificent frieze to finish off: it was declared a historical monument in 1962.

The TEMPLES of the Valley of Kuartango, from the 13th century, offer the singularity of lacking a tower, with the bells being situated in a bell gable away from the main church.

Argandoña ("Cuadrilla" of Vitoria-Gasteiz), Ermita de Berberana, ("Cuadrilla" of Laguardia-Rioja Alavesa), San Vicentejo (Condado de Treviño) and San Vicente de Añes, with its 12th century Romanesque doorway, amongst many others, are further additions to the list of this style which in Álava is totally rural.