Above the City of Oviedo, in Asturias, Spain,
on a hill is the ancient church of Santa María de Naranco.
Originally it was a hall in the palace of Ramiro I of Asturias
about the year 850. It was later converted into a church in the
10th and 11th centuries. The building is in the shape of a rectangle
and has an open porch with a three arch opening. It is very peaceful
and lovely there on the hill with the view of the city below.
There are interesting ornate carvings in the stone walls on the
interior of the church.
A bit up the road from Naranco is the church of San Miguel de Lillo, originally a chapel of a 9th century royal palace. It was altered in the 15th century. There are traces of wall paintings dating from the 9th century on the inside walls. The church is known for its beautiful windows.
