Monastery of Santa María de Nogales, Cistercian monastery ruins in San Esteban de Nogales, Spain.
Monastery of Santa María de Nogales is a Romanesque ruin located near the Ería River and dates from the 12th century. The remaining stone structures display arches and columns characteristic of Cistercian communities from that period.
A nobleman and his wife received the Villa de Nogales in 1149, which led to the monastery's establishment. The site grew into an important religious center for the region over the following centuries.
This monastery served as a spiritual hub for nearby communities and held deep meaning in local religious life. The ruins today remind visitors of how such places once shaped the daily practices and gatherings of people across the region.
The site faces decay and requires careful handling during a visit. Watch for uneven ground and loose stones, as structures are unstable in many areas.
Among the many graves at the site were the remains of two high-ranking individuals whose stone monuments were later moved to a foreign museum. These statues now stand in a museum on another continent, far from where they were originally buried.
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