Church of Santas Justa y Rufina, Maluenda
C/ Santa Justa, Maluenda
CURRENT PROTECTION STATUS: ACI
TYPE OF ASSET: Property
CATEGORY: Religious
ARCHITECTURAL STYLE: Mudejar
CONSTRUCTION DATE: Second half of the 14th century and 15th century
CURRENT PROTECTION STATUS: ACI
TYPE OF ASSET: Property
CATEGORY: Religious
ARCHITECTURAL STYLE: Mudejar
CONSTRUCTION DATE: Second half of the 14th century and 15th century
The church of Santas Justa y Rufina is located at the top of the southern end of Maluenda. Construction took place between the second half of the 14th century and the first decade of the 15th century. Several research projects have led to the conclusion that it was erected on top of a previous building, which may have been a church or a mosque. The church originally had a tower pertaining to the previous construction, which was demolished in the 18th century.
The austerity of the façade and its civilian appearance are striking; there is an alabaster entrance portal and two small, symmetrical towers rising slightly above the building and housing the belfry. These towers are built of masonry and the only decoration consists in brick eaves made of step corbels and pointed arch windows.
The floor plan clearly shows that this is a single nave church divided into three bays with a polygonal apse. In the elevation view, there is an arched passageway, a common feature in Aragonese Mudejar churches. The three bays of the nave are covered by a quadripartite rib vault. The east end consists of a seven-sided polygonal apse covered by a ribbed vault with a passageway of pointed arches running around the upper part. The vault ribs and the church interior are decorated with painted brick designs rendered using a technique consisting in making incisions with a scribe awl and then adding color to the decorative motifs.
The decoration in the apse is an extension of that seen in the nave, containing paintings that imitate individual bricks, with the simulations of small oculi in the vault being particularly striking. The interior decoration displays arabesques of Islamic influence in the latticework over the large windows, only one of which is preserved entirely, while the others still contain traces.
The Rosario chapel was built on the north side in the 16th century and the chapel dedicated to San José, on the south side, dates from the 17th century. The latter has a square footprint and was expanded in the 18th century, adding a dome over pendentives crowned by a lantern. The portal was also erected during that period.
The floor plan clearly shows that this is a single nave church divided into three bays with a polygonal apse. In the elevation view, there is an arched passageway, a common feature in Aragonese Mudejar churches. The three bays of the nave are covered by a quadripartite rib vault. The east end consists of a seven-sided polygonal apse covered by a ribbed vault with a passageway of pointed arches running around the upper part. The vault ribs and the church interior are decorated with painted brick designs rendered using a technique consisting in making incisions with a scribe awl and then adding color to the decorative motifs.
The decoration in the apse is an extension of that seen in the nave, containing paintings that imitate individual bricks, with the simulations of small oculi in the vault being particularly striking. The interior decoration displays arabesques of Islamic influence in the latticework over the large windows, only one of which is preserved entirely, while the others still contain traces.
The Rosario chapel was built on the north side in the 16th century and the chapel dedicated to San José, on the south side, dates from the 17th century. The latter has a square footprint and was expanded in the 18th century, adding a dome over pendentives crowned by a lantern. The portal was also erected during that period.
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Interventions
Restoration, 20th to 21st century
Around the mid-20th century, changes and minor remodeling work was done inside the church. In April 1942, a fire in the church of Santa María forced services to be moved to the church of Santas Justa y Rufina. In 1954, when the parish church was restored, the furniture from Santas Justa y Rufina was moved to replace the furnishings that had burnt. In the late sixties, some of the apertures were restored and stabilizing work was done.
In the late 20th century and early 21st century (2004-2006), a period of comprehensive renovation of the temple took place. In 1982 work was done on the roofs. In 1999, the building was closed for worship in order to perform this work. Between 2004 and 2006, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport and the Government of Aragon invested 1,017,897.87 euros in the restoration of the church interior, commissioning the companies CORESAL and ARTYCO to do the work. The project focused on restoring the wall decoration, tilework, mural paintings and plasterwork. Polychrome wood elements, as well as worn metal and stone elements, were also treated.
From 2006-2007 the Government of Aragon, in conjunction with Caja Inmaculada, began restoring the altarpieces in the church. A total of 242,000 euros was allocated to restoring the 15th-century high altarpiece, the San Nicolás altarpiece from the same period, and the Virgen del Rosario altarpiece, from 1557. The Government of Aragon intervened once again in 2007, this time carrying out work on the roofs over the chapels and sacristy, with a budget of nearly 30,000 euros. Moreover, 11,054.80 euros were invested in the restoration of two processional crosses in 2008.
Around the mid-20th century, changes and minor remodeling work was done inside the church. In April 1942, a fire in the church of Santa María forced services to be moved to the church of Santas Justa y Rufina. In 1954, when the parish church was restored, the furniture from Santas Justa y Rufina was moved to replace the furnishings that had burnt. In the late sixties, some of the apertures were restored and stabilizing work was done.
In the late 20th century and early 21st century (2004-2006), a period of comprehensive renovation of the temple took place. In 1982 work was done on the roofs. In 1999, the building was closed for worship in order to perform this work. Between 2004 and 2006, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport and the Government of Aragon invested 1,017,897.87 euros in the restoration of the church interior, commissioning the companies CORESAL and ARTYCO to do the work. The project focused on restoring the wall decoration, tilework, mural paintings and plasterwork. Polychrome wood elements, as well as worn metal and stone elements, were also treated.
From 2006-2007 the Government of Aragon, in conjunction with Caja Inmaculada, began restoring the altarpieces in the church. A total of 242,000 euros was allocated to restoring the 15th-century high altarpiece, the San Nicolás altarpiece from the same period, and the Virgen del Rosario altarpiece, from 1557. The Government of Aragon intervened once again in 2007, this time carrying out work on the roofs over the chapels and sacristy, with a budget of nearly 30,000 euros. Moreover, 11,054.80 euros were invested in the restoration of two processional crosses in 2008.
Projects and interventions
Projects and interventions, and the driving forces behind them, define the history of monumental buildings and how they are perceived.
Declarations
Declaration, 21st century
The church of Santas Justa y Rufina in Maluenda was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest under the Ministry of Public Instruction and Fine Arts Decree of June 3, 1931 published in the Gazette on June 4, 1931.
In the Official Gazette of Aragon of October 22, 2001, the Department of Culture and Tourism published its Order dated September 28, 2001, supplementing the original declaration of the church of Santas Justa y Rufina in Maluenda (Zaragoza) as an Asset of Cultural Interest.
The church of Santas Justa y Rufina in Maluenda was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest under the Ministry of Public Instruction and Fine Arts Decree of June 3, 1931 published in the Gazette on June 4, 1931.
In the Official Gazette of Aragon of October 22, 2001, the Department of Culture and Tourism published its Order dated September 28, 2001, supplementing the original declaration of the church of Santas Justa y Rufina in Maluenda (Zaragoza) as an Asset of Cultural Interest.
Bibliography
BORRÁS GUALIS, GONZALO M., Arte Mudéjar Aragonés, Caja de Ahorros y Monte de Piedad de Zaragoza Aragón y Rioja y el Colegio Oficial de Aparejadores y Arquitectos técnicos de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, 1985.
GALIAY, J. Arte mudéjar aragonés, Institución Fernando el Católico, Zaragoza, 2002.
GALINDO PÉREZ, SILVIA (COORD.). Aragón Patrimonio Cultural Restaurado. 1984/2009. Bienes muebles, Gobierno de Aragón, Zaragoza, 2010.
MÉNDEZ DE JUAN, JOSÉ FÉLIX, GALINDO PÉREZ, SILVIA Y LASHERAS RODRÍGUEZ, JAVIER. Aragón Patrimonio Cultural Restaurado. 1984/2009. Bienes inmuebles, Gobierno de Aragón, Zaragoza, 2010.
SANMIGUEL MATEO, A. Sobre una torre desaparecida contigua a la Iglesia de las Santas Justa y Rufina, en Maluenda, Turiaso, Nº 7, 1987, pags. 105-114.
Appendixes
Church of Santas Justa y Rufina
C/ Santa Justa
50340 Maluenda (Zaragoza)
