THE NATIVITY ALTARPIECE

BACKGROUND 

The former parish church of Barriosuso - today called the Hermitage of Saint Martin - has a single nave, two aisles and a straight sanctuary with a pointed barrel vault. The oldest section of the building has been dated as coming from the XIII century whereas the nave itself is Renaissance in style and dates from the XVI century. The rather sombre, stark portal also dates from the end of that century.

Building on the Renaissance style chapel the Díaz Ortega family added to the gospel side of the church  was completed in 1586. The family coat of arms can be seen both on the outside of the chapel and on the tombs themselves. The chapel contains four tombs, the oldest of which is Gothic in style, and two aisles, all presided over by a Romanist Epiphany altarpiece.

On the main altarpiece of the church of the same style, reliefs depicting scenes from the life of the Holy Virgin share niches with figures representing the Bishop of Tours. An XVIII century, Baroque belfry crowning the façade completes the group.