by The Cathedral of Santiagoiconic goal of pilgrimage and joy of the Spanish Romanesque, keeps a secret in its towers that defies perception and gravity. Two of them, that of Berenguela and that of the Campaignshave revealed an inclination that dates back to its construction in the 12th century.
Defying gravity
The Bell Tower stands out as the most inclined, with a deviation of approximately 40 centimeters in a southerly direction. At your side, The Berenguela tower has an inclination of 12 centimeters in its highest part, recently discovered by the architect Javier Alonso de la Peña. These inclinations, although noticeable if observed carefully, have been the subject of care over the centuries to avoid the risk of collapse.
Origins and evolution
The inclination of the towers dates back to the 12th century, during the construction of the cathedral. Was at the end of the 16th century when the inclination of the Bell Tower was detected, and constructive measures were taken to reinforce the structure. In the 17th century, during the extensions, a baroque body was added to the towers, without the inclination being an impediment for the architects of the time.
The Bell Tower of the Santiago’s cathedral has been object of special attention along the centuries. Although the inclination was detected in the 16th century, the construction of buttresses and other constructive solutions were carried out to prevent deviation from increasing. In 2012, during restoration works, Javier Alonso de la Peña downplayed the inclination, focusing on other deficiencies resulting from poor maintenance of the building.
Berenguela: a recent discovery
Related news
The Berenguela tower, also known as the Clock Tower, has an inclination of 12 centimeters at the highest part. Although de la Peña points out that it cannot be determined exactly when it became twisted, he suggests that the action of lightning on the tower could be the cause. However, it ensures that the inclination only affects the lantern that culminates the structure and does not represent a risk for the rest of the column.
Security and preservation
Despite the visible inclination, experts say that there is no danger to the stability of the towers. Annuals allow you to monitor any changes and stay calm. In 2011after the fall of stones from the Berenguela towerRepairs were facilitated in the most damaged areas of the towers, which showed “significant deterioration.”
