Santa María de Santa Cruz de la Serós, Romanesque church in Santa Cruz de la Serós, Spain.
Santa Maria de Santa Cruz de la Seros is a Romanesque church in northern Spain built with a Latin cross plan, barrel-vaulted nave, and semicircular apse. The substantial bell tower rises prominently and was constructed from carefully dressed stone blocks.
The monastery was founded around the year 1000 and became an important Benedictine convent in the region. Over the centuries the community enjoyed steady support and patronage from Aragon's ruling family.
The church served as the heart of a convent where noblewomen from Aragon's royal family lived and worshipped together. The site held deep meaning for the region as a place where royalty devoted themselves to religious life.
The church sits in a mountainous area and can be reached on foot or by car. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear as the paths around the building are uneven and interior stairs are steep.
Above the crossing of the church sits an octagonal chamber topped with a ribbed dome-like vault. This space is reached only by climbing a steep stairway and may have served as the private quarters of the abbess.
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