San Juan Bautista Church (Laguardia)

The church of San Juan was built as a temple-fortress, with the necessary elements to defend the citizenship. The building shows different architectural styles. The southern facade, known as "de los abuelos", (the grandparents') combines Romanesque and Gothic styles; this was the first part to be built (end of the 12th - beginning of the 13th century) and shows a marked French influence, with some columns decorated with plant and animal motifs, and biblical stories.

However, most of the church was built in Gothic style in the 13th and 14th centuries. Its Latin cross plan has a transcept crossing and three apses. Pointed arches and simple cross ribbed vaults form the naves' decoration. On its walls we can also appreciate Gothic windows and rose windows.

The temple underwent slight modifications in the 16th century and lost its fortified character. One of the changes was the Neo-classical chapel added, dedicated to the Virgin of El Pilar, and another modification was that the tower, a medieval castle up to then, became the belfry.

The church's former vestry is now a museum showing liturgic objects.