[Gocamino] Jaca

[Blaroli@aol.com]

Hello you all,
Cultural chroniclers in Spain have recognized for centuries that the Camino 
and Xacobean devotion have brought about and preserved  impressive and 
beautiful examples of Romanic art.
The Cathedral of Jaca is an outstanding example of Romanic artistic 
architecture and sculpture.  Amidst its spacious naves there is a beautiful eight-sided 
cupola sustained  by arches. The master builder of the church narrated 
biblical and Gospel stories through  carvings on the capiteles for the benefit of 
the overwhelming majority of medieval pilgrims who couldn't read. One of the 
most beautiful carvings is the representation of Isaac's sacrifice, wherein both 
Abraham and Isaac appear nude.  The tympanum above the main door is quite 
famous and its center piece, called crismon, is believed to be the oldest of its 
kind in Europe.  It consists of a circular ring with the Greek anagram XPS, for 
Christ, adorned with daisies. The priest in the church that assists pilgrims 
informs that daisies were the traditional representation of the Eucharist 
among Eastern Christians
There is a plethora of other figures there that has given rise to all sorts 
of speculations throughout the centuries, including attributions to Zoroastra.
Jaca appears to have an attraction for those who believe in magic and the 
like..... with some reason: atop the Cathedral  flies a white flag as an amulet 
to protect the city and its environs from destructive storms.  Apparently it 
works, since no such catastrophes have taken please in the area for centuries.  
The white cloth of the flag is changed every year, and before it goes aloft 
it is placed on the main altar on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
Some relics of a medieval Christian martyr, Santa Orosia, are also kept in 
the church, and people have been flocking to the saint's chapel for centuries, 
coming from many countries, to be exorcised, or have someone exorcised, of 
inner demons,
Other unforgettable  churches in Jaca are the chapel in the monastery of the 
Benedictine nuns, which is full of Romanic paintings  and where it rests the 
fabulously carved sepulcher of Dona Sancha, who was the sister of the King of 
Aragon, Sancho Ramirez. 
The pilgrims' albergue is attached to the Santiago church, which is also 
Romanic but which has been renovated often.  The Hospitalero, Father Don Fernando, 
has many letters from Lutheran and other priests and ministers introducing 
pilgrims. 
The president of the Camino Friends' Association will tell you that the 
Roncesvalles battle (or Carlomagno and Roldan's fame) did not take place in 
Roncesvalles, but nearby in the port of Palo. In  fact, there is a huge indenture in 
a rock there which is called "The becha de Roldan" and which is believed to 
have been made with  Roldan's sword, Durendal
Throughout Jaca one can find architectural Romanic treasures, and, also, a 
great many students of art and architecture from many countries.
In ancient times Jaca built and maintained a very large five-sided military 
fort (today a recreational park) which was enormously instrumental in 
maintaining the influence and sovereignty of Aragon.. Its measurements were, almost to 
the centimeter,  the same as those of that other five-sided military facility 
in Washington D.C.
Those pilgrims who are appreciative of the fine details of food  (a pleasure 
denied to those of us for whom food is only fuel) sing the praises of the food 
of the region in general and Jaca in particular.