Ruins of Hospital of San Juan de Acre, Navarrete, Restos de un hospital de peregrinos
The Ruins of Hospital of San Juan de Acre are the remains of a medieval hospital built around the year 1185 to shelter travelers and pilgrims. The site contains old stone walls, foundations, and a Romanesque doorway dating to the 12th century that reveal the building's former layout and scale.
The hospital was established around 1185 and was part of a network of resting places along the Way of Saint James that ensured safe passage for pilgrims. Excavations beginning in 1990 uncovered main walls, remains of a church with a Latin cross floor plan, and a cylindrical tower structure.
The site was known as a xenodocheion, a place where strangers and travelers found shelter and care. Walking through the ruins today, you sense how hospitality and aid were woven into the life of this medieval community.
The ruins are easily accessible within the town of Navarrete and can be explored on foot. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes as the uneven ground with old stones may be challenging for older people or those unaccustomed to walking on such terrain.
Excavations uncovered a cylindrical tower with a spiral staircase that shows how the structure was designed for security and access. Four burial sites were also discovered beneath the ground, providing clues about the people who used the hospital.
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