Sant Benet de Bages, Romanesque monastery in Sant Fruitós de Bages, Spain.
Sant Benet de Bages is a Benedictine monastery in Sant Fruitós de Bages with roots reaching back to the 10th century. The church contains a single nave with a semicircular apse, while the cloister displays 64 sculpted capitals depicting biblical scenes.
Founded in 960 by nobles Sal·la and Ricardis, the monastery gained papal protection and underwent changes over the centuries. A Romanesque church was built in the 12th century, followed by Gothic modifications that added new architectural layers to the complex.
The complex displays architectural layers from different periods that reflect changing spiritual and artistic ideas. The carved capitals in the cloister tell biblical stories, showing how monks used sculpture to teach faith to visitors.
The monastery is managed today by the Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation, which offers guided tours and educational programs for visitors. Be prepared for uneven stone floors and narrow passages as you move through the medieval spaces and older sections of the complex.
The monastery served as a summer residence for painter Ramon Casas's family, who commissioned architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch to restore it. This modernization brought artistic vision and fresh energy to the medieval structure during the late 1800s.
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