Colegiata de Santa María la Mayor

Colegiata Santa María la Mayor - José Antonio Gil Martíne Flickr

Asturias is one of the most attractive destinations in the northern part of the Iberian Peninsula, with its perfect mix of mountain and coastal landscapes, the authenticity of the gastronomy and the people, but also because of the Camino de Santiago. About 42 kilometers from Oviedo, in the center west of the Asturian region, is the Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayor, a church that stands in the heart of the old town and in the center of the town of Salas.

The Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayor dates back to the 16th century and was built by order of Archbishop Don Fernando de Valdés, although later other elements were added, such as the bell tower, the portico and two small chapels on the sides. The building was originally of Gothic style with Renaissance elements, and it houses some great works of art such as 'El mausoleo del Arzobispo Valdés', 'El retablo Mayor' and 'La capilla de los Malleza'.

Inside the Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayor there are some great works of art.

Inside the Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayor, the apse with a vault, the mausoleum and two altarpieces stand out. First of all, the mausoleum is one of the most iconic elements, since it is a funerary monument of Fernando de Valdés-Salas himself, founder of the University of Oviedo.

The Malleza Chapel is an architectural work by Pedro Sánchez de Agrela and sculpture by Luis Fernández de la Vega dating from the 17th century. Finally, the altarpiece is also dated during the same period and responds to different scenes from the Bible, such as the baptism of Christ or the adoration of the Magi.