Collegiate Church and Moutas Palace
Chapter 8/9 · Pravia
This is the Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayor. It was founded in 1715 by Fernando Ignacio Arango Queipo; according to tradition, he promised it to the Virgin of El Valle during a storm on his way back from a voyage to the Philippines. It was designed by the architects Francisco de la Riva Ladrón de Guevara and Pedro Muñiz Somonte, consecrated in 1727, and became the parish church in 1887.
Outside it is plain; inside it is Baroque, with a dome over the high altar. The main altarpiece, attributed to Manuel Pedrero, is covered with some 40 kilos of gold leaf, and the side aisles have carvings by Villabrille y Ron. It also keeps a Baroque organ declared a Site of Cultural Interest, which is still played on special occasions, and Stations of the Cross by Magín Berenguer from 1957 and 1958.
Joined to the church is the Moutas Palace, which Arango built for his family. It was begun before the church, in dressed stone around a courtyard with columns, and it keeps much of its original furniture; a passage links it to the church gallery. Today it is hired out for celebrations.
We cross the park back to the Tourist Office.
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