Church of Santa Cristina (Santa Cristina d'Aro)

The Church of Santa Cristina houses a collection that blends architecture, sculpture, and painting from different eras. If you enjoy discovering how a building has transformed over time, here you can follow a story that spans from pre-Romanesque structures to 20th-century artistic additions.

The church retains the basic structures of a 10th-century pre-Romanesque building, with two naves and a transept. Horseshoe arches coexist with elements of the new architecture that appeared in the country during the first third of the 11th century: a semicircular apse with a chancel arch and Lombard decoration. This combination allows you to observe different architectural traditions in a single space.

Three side chapels were added to the north side, probably in the 16th or 17th centuries. The church also preserves a pre-Romanesque relief and a Romanesque doorway from the 12th or 13th century. The main facade doorway, however, is rectangular and dates from the 18th century.

When you look at the exterior, raise your gaze to the bell tower. It retains Romanesque structures and is covered with green tiles, added in the 20th century. This is another detail that helps you recognize the interventions made at different times to the complex.

Inside, take some time to admire the altarpiece of Saint Christina, a work by a 16th-century Catalan master influenced by the Valencian school. Joan Pujades designed its structure, while the paintings are likely by Joan Sanches Galindo. This information provides a starting point for exploring the various artistic contributions of the altarpiece.

The tour continues in the side chapels, where canvases painted in the 20th century by the Cassà artist Benet Casabó are preserved. From the arches to the paintings, every element invites you to pause and discover a stage in the history of the church.