Colexiata de Santa María de Sar
Caminho da Geira e dos Arrieiros
Parque de Eugenio Granell
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1.70
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Colexiata de Santa María de Sar
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1.30
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Santiago de Compostela at the end of the Caminho da Geira
The Colexiata de Santa María de Sar is a remarkable 12th-century Romanesque church on the southern approach to Santiago. The building is famous for its dramatically leaning columns — the interior pillars tilt visibly outward, a result of structural problems that were addressed with flying buttresses in the 17th and 18th centuries. The effect is both disconcerting and beautiful.
The cloister, partially preserved, has fine Romanesque capitals. The church is often overlooked by pilgrims rushing to the cathedral, but it's one of the most interesting buildings in Santiago and worth the stop.
The Colexiata was founded in the 12th century and is attributed to Maestro Mateo's workshop — the same architect responsible for the Pórtico de la Gloria in Santiago's cathedral. The leaning columns have been a source of debate among architectural historians for centuries. Whether they result from foundation problems, seismic activity, or deliberate design (unlikely but occasionally argued), the buttresses added later have stabilized the structure.