Church of Our Lady of the Star, Navalagamella

Church of Our Lady of the Star (Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Estrella) stands as the principal landmark of Navalagamella, a small town in the province of Madrid, and has been formally recognised as a Bien de Interés Cultural (Asset of Cultural Interest). You'll find it on Navahonda Street, right next to the town cemetery, along the M-510 road.

How did this church come to look the way it does?

Construction of a fortified church began at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries. Thick ashlar-stone walls and stepped buttresses gave the building a defensive character, a common trait for rural churches of the period, which often doubled as places of refuge. In 1541 the apse was enlarged, work that coincided with a wave of intense construction activity across the region driven by the building of the El Escorial monastery.

That same building boom, which gave Madrid the Escorial, left its mark on many nearby churches — including this one, whose bell tower carries the distinctive Herrerian style associated with that monastery.

What will you see inside and out?

Inside, a single hall-plan nave leads to a polygonal-headed chancel. Gothic attached pilasters, pointed arches and ribbed vaults create a sober but precise rhythm, one that still echoes the earlier Romanesque basilica layout onto which the Gothic crossing was later grafted.

Outside, a 17th-century stone cross stands in front of the facade, while the bell tower follows the Herrerian style that also defines El Escorial. It's this contrast — a plain, fortress-like body paired with a more refined Renaissance-era tower — that makes the church a distinctive example of religious architecture in the Madrid region.

How do you get there?

Navalagamella sits in the western part of the Community of Madrid, in the Sierra Oeste area. The church stands right in the town centre, on Navahonda Street beside the M-510, and is easy to find by heading toward the cemetery. Driving from Madrid takes roughly an hour, and the town's location makes it simple to combine with other Sierra Oeste sights in a single day trip.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring and early autumn bring the mildest weather in this part of Madrid, with the surrounding hills still green. Summer afternoons can turn quite hot, so an early visit is a better plan during that season. Since the building functions as an active parish church, it's worth checking Mass times and opening hours in advance if you want to see the interior.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you go inside the church? Yes — as a working parish church, it typically opens around Mass times and services. There's no fixed museum-style visiting schedule, so it's best to check ahead.

Why does the church look so fortress-like? The thick walls and stepped buttresses date from the late 15th and early 16th centuries, when rural churches in the area were built to shelter the community as well as to serve worship.

What's the connection to El Escorial? The 1541 expansion of the apse coincided with the intense construction activity triggered by the building of El Escorial, and the church's bell tower reflects the same Herrerian style seen at the monastery.

Is this the town's main landmark? Yes. The Church of Our Lady of the Star is Navalagamella's principal heritage site and its only officially protected cultural asset, making it the natural starting point for exploring the town.