Monastery of Santa Maria, El Puig, Gothic monastery in El Puig de Santa Maria, Spain.
The Monastery of Santa Maria, El Puig, is a Gothic monastery located in the town of El Puig de Santa Maria, near Valencia. It is made up of two distinct sections, with a defensive tower at each corner of the main building.
A first church was built here in 1237 on the orders of King James I, following his victory in the conquest of Valencia. Over the following centuries, the building grew into the Gothic complex that stands today.
The cloisters are decorated with paintings by José Vergara and Espinosa, two Spanish artists who worked in the 18th century. Walking through the courtyards, visitors can see these works up close, set into the walls of the covered walkways.
Access to the monastery is generally by guided tour, so it is worth contacting the site before visiting. Mornings tend to offer more availability and a quieter experience inside the complex.
A Byzantine icon of the Virgin, said to have been found beneath a fallen bell, is believed to have prompted the transformation of the original church into the Gothic structure seen today. The icon is still kept inside the monastery and can be seen during guided visits.
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