Romanesque architecture truly arrives with the influence of Cluny through the Way of Saint James pilgrimage route that ends in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. The model of the Spanish Romanesque in the 12th century was the Cathedral of Jaca, with its characteristic apse structure and plan, and its "chess" decoration in strips called taqueado jaqués. As the Christian kingdoms advanced towards the South, this model spread throughout the reconquered areas with some variations. Spanish Romanesque was also influenced by the Spanish pre-Romanesque styles, mainly the Asturian and the Mozarab. But there is also a strong influence from the moorish architecture, so close in space, specially the vaults of Córdoba`s Mosque, and the polylobulated arches. In the 13th century, some Romanesque churches were built with early Gothic architectural elements. Aragón, Catalonia, Castile and Navarra are the areas where numerous examples of Spanish Romanesque can be found.
