Sant Julià i Sant Germà, Romanesque, Baroque and 21st-century mosaics

Sant Julià i Sant Germà is an oddity among Andorra’s churches, because the most impressive thing inside isn’t medieval. It stands in central Sant Julià de Lòria, is the most important church in the parish and still holds services every day. Outside it’s Romanesque, inside Baroque, and since 2019 it has an altar covered in contemporary mosaics.

A Lombard tower and a 16th-century Christ

The church is Romanesque in origin, though restored and remodelled in modern times. It keeps its three-storey Lombard bell tower, square and solid, in neatly dressed stone with blind arcading and pilaster strips. Inside is a 16th-century carving of the Christ of Grace and the Baroque altarpieces of St Julian, the Immaculate Conception and St Germain, plus two 12th-century carvings, the Canòlich Virgin and the Virgin of Remedies.

What are the Rupnik mosaics like?

Since May 2019 the church has had 200 m² of mosaics by Marko Ivan Rupnik on the high altar and presbytery. They show a Pantocrator covering the whole wall and Jesus surrounded by the Evangelists, the Virgin and other figures from Christian iconography. The work also created a chapel for Our Lady of Canòlich, the patron saint, who has her own mountain shrine, the Canòlich sanctuary.

So you do not lose the morning at the ticket office, browse tickets and tours in Sant Julià i Sant Germà on GetYourGuide.

How to visit

Access is adapted for people with reduced mobility, and guided visits run on request for €2 through the Sant Julià tourist office. It’s part of the Ronda Laurediana, the route through the village centre. To see more of the country’s churches, I have the Romanesque churches of Andorra.

Arriving by bus

The church stands in the heart of the town. Coming from Spain, Andorra Direct Bus makes its only intermediate stop in Sant Julià, and within the country the L1 and the Bus Exprés link the town with Andorra la Vella and Escaldes. From the central stops you walk.

If you would rather go at your own pace, see the car hire deals in Andorra la Vella: the earlier you book, the more cars are left to choose from.

What to pair it with

With the church done, the parish fills a whole day. Up the Nagol road stands Sant Serni de Nagol, whose consecration dates from 1055, with wall paintings found in 1978 and free entry. Higher still, the Juberri Gardens mix geometric beds and sculptures, and on the La Rabassa road, Naturland has the Tobotronc and zip lines for families.

Who it’s for

It’s a must for anyone crossing the southern border who wants more than shopping, and for anyone following the story of Our Lady of Canòlich. If you only care for pure Romanesque, you’ll find it too remodelled, and I’d head straight to Nagol. I find it interesting precisely for its mix of periods, which tells you a lot about how the parish has changed. I’d allow twenty minutes, and longer with the guided visit. You book the guided visit at the town’s tourist office, on Laurèdia square. It’s also fully accessible, which helps if you’re travelling with someone who has reduced mobility.

Before you fix your dates, compare tickets to Andorra la Vella: the same journey can cost very different amounts from one day to the next.