Monastery of San Millán de Yuso, Medieval monastery in San Millán de la Cogolla, Spain
San Millán de Yuso is a large Romanesque and Herrerian monastery in San Millán de la Cogolla, Spain, known for its rich interior furnishings. The church features three naves with Corinthian columns, an ornate Plateresque pulpit, and Greco-Roman choir stalls within a solid stone structure.
Construction began in 1053 after King García decided to replace the smaller Suso monastery, interpreting it as a divine signal. The new monastery expanded over several centuries, receiving major architectural additions in the 16th and 18th centuries.
The monastery library preserves over 300 manuscripts from the 11th to 15th centuries, including essential documents about the origins of Spanish language. This collection makes the monastery a key location for the study of Romance languages and their development on the Iberian Peninsula.
Visitors can explore the monastery through guided tours that include access to the church, sacristy, cloister, and library exhibition rooms. Tours typically last about an hour and cover the main areas of the complex.
The sacristy displays original 18th-century ceiling frescoes depicting biblical scenes and representations of saints. The Renaissance walls house a collection of religious artworks including paintings and ivory carvings from different periods.
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