Monasterio de Santo Domingo, 13th century monastery in Caleruega, Spain.
Monasterio de Santo Domingo is a monastery in Caleruega that combines Romanesque and Renaissance architectural styles with stone walls and rounded arches. The church inside has a single nave layout and contains carved stone elements that reflect different periods of construction and artistic work.
King Alfonso X of Castile established this monastery in 1266 and granted the Caleruega estate to Dominican nuns as guardians of Saint Dominic's birthplace. This royal patronage allowed the community to grow and gradually add architectural features from different periods over the following centuries.
The monastery holds deep significance as the birthplace of Saint Dominic, the founder of the Dominican order, keeping his memory alive through daily monastic life. Visitors can observe how the resident nuns maintain traditions of prayer and community that have continued for centuries.
The monastery is home to Dominican nuns who welcome visitors during prayer times and can share information about Saint Dominic and monastic traditions. It is best to check visiting hours beforehand and plan your visit around liturgical prayer schedules to experience the active monastic community.
The monastery houses two polychrome stone carvings from the 13th century depicting the Virgin Mary and the Angel of Annunciation, now displayed in its museum. These carved pieces demonstrate the skilled artistry that existed at the monastery from its earliest period.
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