The Ex-Colegiata de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción is the most emblematic building in Roa. Located in the town’s main square, in Calle El Fresco, we can still see the Romanesque remains of earlier buildings, as well as a Gothic façade presided over by the Christ Majesty as Pantocrator.

Around 1530-1540, the construction of the current church began, in accordance with the type of the time: a hall-shaped church with three naves at the same height. It has ribbed and cambered vaults, supported by wide columns with beautiful fluted grooves at the top.

According to Lampérez and Romea, it belongs to the ” transitional Gothic-Renaissancestyle” group of churches. The Castilian centres stubbornly resisted giving way to the Renaissance, although they slowly admitted classical elements in their decoration. The buildings were already in the new style, but retained their medieval inspiration. This art is not decadent Gothic but a magnificent, but late, offshoot, which maintains the slenderness and refinement of the forms. All the doors and windows gradually took on semicircular lines to replace the Gothic ogive.

The current church was completed in the mid-16th century under the hands of Pedro de Rasines and by order of the County of Siruela, lords of the town. This collegiate church had the support of the Bishop of Osma, a determining factor in its construction.

The interior does not leave the visitor indifferent. The harmony of the structure combines with the sobriety that prevails in many Castilian churches and gives a glimpse of the importance of this building in former times. The main altar is neoclassical in style, housing in contrast a Gothic Christ from the 13th century. The hall floor plan distributes three more chapels on its flanks: Chapel of the Sagrario with a 16th century wrought iron gate, Chapel of the Inmaculada or Burgos family and, finally, Chapel of the Borja family.

Clean walls that house pieces as beautiful and diverse as a 14th century Romanesque baptismal font , a Gothic altarpiece predella or a set of sculptures of the Adoration of the Kings carved in wood and attributed to Gil de Siloé.

This building, witness to numerous historical events, marriages, funerals and executions, is an essential visit when passing through ROA DE DUERO.