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Chapel of San Pedro de Abrisketa

The Chapel of San Pedro de Abrisketa, located in Arrigorriaga, Bizkaia, is a Romanesque structure dating back to the 11th or 12th century. It’s one of the oldest preserved Christian structures in Bizkaia, alongside San Pelayo chapel in Bakio and San Miguel de Zumetxaga chapel in Mungia.

This modest-sized building features a single rectangular nave and a smaller rectangular apse. The entrance showcases a semicircular wooden door set within masonry walls, adorned with a chambranle and a chequered impost line. Adjacent to the door is a holy water font decorated with double rope molding.

The interior walls are exposed sandstone, with the nave covered by a wooden beam structure without a ceiling, while the lower apse is topped with a barrel vault. Despite the differing heights of the nave and apse, the exterior is unified under a single gabled roof with three slopes. Notably, the apse contains a pre-Romanesque window, possibly predating the 11th century, featuring intricate carvings, including two Visigothic crosses beneath small arches. Additionally, there are deteriorated stone carvings depicting human figures, suggesting moralistic themes.

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