Hospital de Somport, cultural property in Aísa, Spain
Hospital de Somport is a medieval monastery and shelter built in Romanesque style at the southern face of the mountain pass in the Pyrenees. The complex included a small church with an apse, a guest house for pilgrims, monastic living quarters, and a cemetery where travelers were laid to rest.
Foundation is attributed to Viscount Gaston IV of Bearn, who built the hospice in the early 11th century to aid travelers crossing the treacherous mountain pass. Economic decline and political conflicts weakened the site in the 16th century, leading to the community's dissolution in 1597 and its abandonment.
The name refers to Saint Christina, protector of travelers, reflecting the site's purpose of aiding those crossing the mountains. Canons living by a strict rule made this a religious center where faith and hospitality were central to daily life and the care provided to pilgrims.
The site sits at high altitude on the Spanish-French border in the Pyrenees and is now an archaeological excavation with visible foundations and ruins. Visitors should be prepared for changeable mountain weather and bring proper clothing and sturdy footwear for exploring the uneven terrain.
Legend tells that two knights founded the site after seeing a white dove carrying a golden cross appear during a snowstorm in the mountains. This image of the dove with a cross became the hospital's emblem and remains a symbol of hope for those who cross the treacherous pass.
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