The apse of the church of Santa María del Castillo in Muriel (Spain) collapses.

On the morning of January 12, 2026, the apse of the parish church of Santa María del Castillo, located in the municipality of Muriel de Zapardiel, in the province of Valladolid, Castilla y León (Spain), collapsed around 8:00 a.m. TheRomanesque-Mudéjar style building, which has been declared an Asset of Cultural Interest, suffered a sudden collapse of the structure, causing no injuries among those present. Technicians from the Heritage Delegation of the Archdiocese of Valladolid immediately went to the scene to make an initial emergency technical assessment, accompanied by representatives of the Junta de Castilla y León. Juan Carlos Álvarez, Heritage Delegate of the Archdiocese, emphasized that the priority now is to identify the causes of the collapse and remedy it before starting any consolidation or reconstruction work. The procedure requires a detailed appraisal, which has already been initiated together with the insurance company, and formal authorization for operations to clear debris, sort salvageable materials, and temporarily cover the damaged area.

The parish priest of Muriel, Luis Alejandro Gamboa, on the other hand, stated the deep sorrow with which the local community is dealing with the event. Indeed, the church represents a historical and cultural symbol for the village. Despite the collapse, some liturgical objects, including the chalice used for the celebration of the Eucharist, were recovered intact from the remains of the altar. Preliminary intervention work, managed by the Heritage and Works Delegation of the Archdiocese of Valladolid, thus consists of removing debris, recovering usable material, and temporarily protecting the uncovered facade. The next phase involves the reconstruction of the apse and the structural consolidation of the entire church, according to the guidelines dictated by the regulations on Goods of Cultural Interest.

No additional damage beyond that caused by the apse collapse was found during visual inspections, with the exception of a crucified Christ that stood on the altar and was affected by the falling debris; this too will be subject to restoration. In addition to the diocesan delegation, the councilor for Culture, Tourism and Sports of the Junta of Castile and Leon, Gonzalo Santonja, the general director of Cultural Heritage, Juan Carlos Prieto, and territorial delegate Raquel Alonso, worked on the site today. At present, the causes of the subsidence are unknown. Experts will evaluate factors such as degradation of materials, possible seepage or previous damage to the structure. The priority remains to ensure community safety and heritage conservation. The Heritage Delegation confirmed that restoration work will begin only after the completion of the analysis phase and with the necessary permits.

In addition, since its declaration as an Asset of Cultural Interest in the 1980s, the church has undergone several interventions aimed at correcting historical structural problems, as well as periodic maintenance work. The most recent actions, in 2021 and 2024, included the repair of seepage and work on the chancel. In 2024 alone, the Archdiocese of Valladolid allocated about nine million euros, or 38 percent of the annual budget, to building conservation and operating expenses. In the same period, with support from entities such as the Junta de Castilla y León and the Valladolid Provincial Council, work was carried out in 56 diocesan-owned churches and buildings in the city and province, not counting minor works.

The apse of the church of Santa María del Castillo in Muriel (Spain) collapses.

Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.