LA DEVOCIÓN EN EL ESPACIO: LAS ERMITAS EN LOS TERRITORIOS DE LAS ÓRDENES MILITARES

Resumen

The religiosity and the many-sided character that this devotion acquired in the 16^th. century is reflected spatially in the different structures and in the development of new religious expression. The peace which prevailed in the decade 1490-1500 allowed for the reconstruction of old buildings and for the appearance of new places of devotion placed well away from the towns. It is worth noting that in the disposition and placing of the hermitages the models repeat themselves, albeit never exactly. However, within the urban areas, they are always outside the town, either near to it, or in the outskirts. They surround the town like a second wall, in this case a wall both religious and spiritual. Also, the dedications and saints’ names seem to coincide, with a clear relation between the saint and the devotional tradition which is associated with him. The typical architectural characteristics do not present formal features, which is noticieable in itself. What is important, however, together with its religious significance, is the fact that the defining features are repeated almost endlessly, a small edifice, a longitudinal groundplan, one, two or three naves, and a wooden roof without any exterior structural elements.