The Collegiate Church of Santa Juliana de Santillana del Mar, Autonomous Community of Cantabria (Spain), which takes its name from this town Cantabria (Sant Iuliano – Santillana), is one of the most representative monuments of the Roman region. It was declared a National Monument in 1889.

Supposedly the young Juliana was martyred in Asia Minor (now Turkey) during the persecutions launched by Emperor Diocletian at the end of the third century, and his remains in the ninth century brought here by some monks, pilgrims. Already at that time (the documents place him at 870) a chapel was built under the advocation of holding the holy and venerate their relics, and then a monastery that flourished under the protection of the local nobility. It was King Ferdinand I of Castile, in 1045, who gave the final impetus for granting important privileges, one of which was placed under the sovereignty of their abbot villa and possessions.

The original temple was replaced in the Romanesque period, with various additions and alterations, has been preserved until today, which dates from the twelfth century. In the beginning was a Benedictine monastery, but in the eleventh century it acquired the status of collegiate governed by a community of canons of St Augustine.
Apses.

The outline of a constructive response to the church with three naves and transept of four sections, three semicircular apses, a cylindrical tower and dome of the transept. It completes the package with a cloister and abbatial units. The nave is of greater width and equal to the side of the transept, and the cruise presents a square. The arms of the transept does not protrude from the side walls, so as not to appreciate the outdoors. The headwaters of the three vessels are formed by two semicircular apses staggered. At the foot of the nave was erected a square bell tower that is similar to the exterior appearance that is located on the cruise, giving a symmetrical image of the viewer to the church from the south facade.
Detail of the cover.

On the formal and decorative, there are the existence of a main doorway in the south side open to allow access from the plaza, and another in the north wall that connects the church to the cloister. At this end of the first season became available after a triangular pediment Renaissance replacing the air wing on canecillos original Romanesque; shows a niche containing the image of Santa Juliana in attitude to subdue the demon. Nor is the original fifteen arched gallery that runs from the top of the canvas south. The abocinamiento of the cover is formed by archivolts voussoired smooth; line above a number of human figures rather deteriorated, especially in MANDORLA a center supported by four angels which are in part a pantocrator seated.

The coverage of the ships is done by cross vaults, and the arms of the transept with barrel vaults, the ceiling is vaulted apses oven. Stands on the cruise as a dome whose interior square tower, at a level below the roof, there is a dome that rests on pendentives off.
Cloister.

An item of particular interest is the cloister attached to the end of the twelfth century and the beginning of the XIII to the north wall of the church. In a first phase was built the south wing and part of the west wing, and into the thirteenth century this wing was completed and built the north wing. The east side is a later period (sixteenth century) and does not follow the guidelines of the Romanesque style.
Capitel.

The galleries are made up of primitive pointed arches supported by columns or quadruple. Altogether has 43 capitals of the oldest of the south side and west side of the first section, with stories of appreciable size merit, while the most recent topics vegetables.

The transformation of the former monastery in Collegiate – to change the Benedictine rule that governed by the Canons of the Order of St. Augustine – is produced in the mid-twelfth century, when the current temple built in the Romanesque style, which is the larger the Cantabrian. The structure of three apses and three naves is modeled on Frómista (Palencia) and Romanesque international Castilla enters the Camino de Santiago.

The sculpture of its portico, and canecillos capitals evoke the themes of medieval religiosity, in particular the struggle between Good and Evil, and the need for repentance and forgiveness to be saved from the penalties of hell. This message is displayed through symbols and allegories of animals (lions, pelicans, pigeons, crows, snakes, goats …) and vegetables (apples, ferns, acanthus, lilies, vines, grapes, pineapple …) and some scenes humanas.En the center of the transept stands the tomb of St. Juliana, whose relics are kept in the chest with the arms of the altarpiece of the Casa de la Vega.

The altarpiece is a great work of Spanish-Flemish style of the late XV, with pictorial boards on the martyrdom of the holy apostles and evangelists sculptures. The front of the altar is a magnificent piece of silverware mexicana.En choir kept a remarkable Baroque organ, and in the baptismal chapel, in addition to the stack Romance, an exceptional pantocrator conducted around the year 1200.

The cloister, adjoining the northern facade of the church, shown in its 42 capitals in a variety of thematic evolution of the complete Romanesque sculpture. Along with its walls are observed sarcophagi with heraldic motifs of relevant characters of the clergy and nobleza.COLEGIATA MUSEUM AND DIOCESAN

Joint entry for the two monuments
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