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Church of Santa
María de la Asunción (St Mary of the Assumption)
(Laredo) |
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Driving
along the Bilbao highway one reaches Laredo, a remarkable village in the history of
Cantabria which retains an important medieval artistic
heritage. Firstly, it is worth mentioning the Gothic
church of Santa
María de la Asunción, where
the altarpiece
of Belén is found. Around it
is La Puebla Vieja and El Arrabal, former
nuclei of the village, where there are remains of a
rampart on which the gates of Santa María la Blanca and
Bilbao open. La Puebla Vieja is formed by six
streets, three vertical and three horizontal, from the
times of Alfonso VIII, who granted the Fuero to
Laredo in 1200. The urban plan of La Puebla Vieja
was originally Gothic, with later renovations and
attached pieces. Casonas, palaces, towers, etc.
constitute a valuable ensemble. It is worth remarking the
18th century house of Zarauz, the houses of Villota,
Hernando de Alvarado, Gutiérrez de Rada, La Hoz, Diego
Cacho, etc.. Just in La Puebla Vieja, one finds San Francisco Convent, now the convent of the Trinitarians, built
thanks to the works of charity of the Franciscans during
the 1568 plague. As a reward, these were allowed to live
in the house of the Villotas family in the village, and a
year later their convent was built. In a later urban
extension, the Town Hall was
constructed in La Puebla Vieja, as a sign of the
urban transition from La Puebla Vieja to modern
Laredo. This is one of the most interesting Renaissance
buildings in Cantabria with an important group of 19th
century houses. On the Bilbao
highway one finds the turning to the district of Liendo,
where different casonas and Baroque palaces characterise
the various districts, as well as a rich 19th century
architectural ensemble (houses of indianos,
regionalist villas...). In the district of Hazas is the
hall plan church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, of
the early 17th century with a varied collection of
altarpieces. It is worth remarking that numerous
sculptors and master stonemasons are from this district.
In the district of Villaviad, the 16th century hermitage
of San Andrés may be found, having one of the few stone
altarpieces in Cantabria.
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