Muruzabal - Navarra Media

Cradle of history and Romanesque architecture

Muruzabal lies on the Sierra del Perdón foothills and stretches to the River Robo. Its town centre boasts a surprising heritage including the Parish Church of San Esteban, built in two eras, the oldest in the 14th century. It houses works of great importance: a Baroque high altarpiece from the 18th century with a Virgin from the 16th century; another Rococo altarpiece with several sculptures from the 17th century; the tomb (1666) of Juan Juániz de Echalaz, the Bishop of Calahorra; a Gothic Christ Crucified from the 14th century; a Flemish Gothic altarpiece with sculpture and painting; and the lattice railing (16th century) of the staircase up to the choir. The entrance is a pointed arch with archivolts on plant-decorated capitals.

The town is embellished by the understated Baroque façade of the turreted palace of the Marquis de Zabalegui, a title granted by Charles II the Bewitched of Spain to Francisco Juániz de Echalaz y Oscáriz, the head of the Royal Chancelleries of Granada and Valladolid. It is currently home to a winery.

Pilgrims do not leave this small town without visiting one of the iconic landmarks on the Way of St James: the Shrine Chapel of Eunate. This surprising Romanesque chapel built in the 12th century in the reign of Sancho the Wise, stands on the Way of St. James, and is shrouded in mystery.

Despite not being very clear, its origins are related to the Knights Templar, a military order that was much favoured by that king. Its location suggests that it was probably a ‘lantern of the dead’ or ‘beacon’, but there is no question about its role as a cemetery.

The Church of Santa María de Eunate has an octagonal floor plan, as does the porticoed gallery surrounding it. There is an arched door looking west along the main section, and there is the apse, which is semi-circular inside and polygonal outside, on the eastern side. The dome is raised with eight square ribs in the Moorish style.

Another main portal, decorated with animals, monsters, hoofed beasts and human figures on its upper archivolt, opens northwards on its transept.

Particularly noteworthy is the simplicity of the ashlar walls and only the capitals of the columns have decorative motifs with human and animal figures, and mainly plant themes.

Apart from the traditional patron saint’s festivities held around 3 August, Muruzabal has pilgrimages dedicated to Eunate (Monday after Pentecost and 24 August), to the shrine chapels of Santa Lucia (13 December), of San Blas (3 February) and of San Pedro de Auriz (first Sunday in May).

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