San Miguel Royal Monastery, is located in Liria, near València. Located in a peaceful place that fosters meditation and respite, San Miguel Monastery sits on a hill among Bronze Age remains and alongside an Iberian settlement said to be linked to the ancient town of Edeta. Findings and research carried out have concluded that this historic site in Llíria was particularly important during Roman times. The site boasts spectacular views of the surrounding scenery and you can now visit both the Monastery and the Iberian remains for a journey back in time.
San Miguel Royal Monastery as we know it today dates back to 1326 when King James II set out to create a secluded sanctuary for prayer. The King’s wish was fulfilled for 500 years until the church fell into the hands of a religious order. Featuring a neoclassical style, the church is home to fascinating frescoes, paintings, sculptures by renowned artists and impressive gold work.
Today, you can pay the monastery a visit as part of your trip to Llíria by arranging a guided tour in which the site’s history and tales unfold before you.
References:The Church of St Donatus name refers to Donatus of Zadar, who began construction on this church in the 9th century and ended it on the northeastern part of the Roman forum. It is the largest Pre-Romanesque building in Croatia.
The beginning of the building of the church was placed to the second half of the 8th century, and it is supposed to have been completed in the 9th century. The Zadar bishop and diplomat Donat (8th and 9th centuries) is credited with the building of the church. He led the representations of the Dalmatian cities to Constantinople and Charles the Great, which is why this church bears slight resemblance to Charlemagne's court chapels, especially the one in Aachen, and also to the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. It belongs to the Pre-Romanesque architectural period.
The circular church, formerly domed, is 27 m high and is characterised by simplicity and technical primitivism.