Santa María de Gradefes

Gradefes, Spain

Founded in 1168, the building of the Santa María de Gradefes Church, according to an engraving on the northern lower wall, began on March 1st, 1177 under the patronage of the woman who became its Abbess -Teresa Pérez, widow of García Pérez, a knight of Alfonso VII. The first community was made up of Cistercian nuns who came from the monastery of Tulebras, Navarra. It became an important and privileged female monastery.

It is the only example in Spain of a female monastery having an ambulatory. In the church are the tombs with statues of the founding couple, a polychromatic work from the late 13th century. Kept in the monastery rooms are the polychromatic wooden carvings of a 12th century Virgin and a Gothic Christ, formerly part of a Calvary from the 14th century.

Valuable sculptures from the twelfth century. Fourteenth century tombs. Virgen de las Angustias (sixteenth century). Chalices, crucifixes and lignum crucis (largest section of the cross).

In monastic dependencies are kept polychrome carvings of a Virgin of the XII century and a Gothic Christ which was part of a Calvary of the XIV. Garments and shoes belonging to the founder are also kept.

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Gradefes, Spain
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Details

Founded: 1168
Category: Religious sites in Spain

More Information

www.turismocastillayleon.com

Rating

4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Juan Ramón Prado Marbán (7 months ago)
Formidable
Ernesto Turienzo (7 months ago)
Charming site that demonstrates the great value and importance that the Cistercian Order had in this region, being the second female monastery of this order in Spain (after another in Navarra). Your guide, Javi, a charming person who explains clearly and very pleasantly the historical, cultural and architectural tour of the place. Mandatory stop if you are in the area.
JUAN MANUEL MARTINEZ VALBUENA (7 months ago)
Monastery full of history. The day we were there there was a guided tour. Very interesting.
Julia Álvarez (2 years ago)
Saturday July 8. Route of the monasteries of the Valle del Esla, fantastic visit among them to the Monastery of Santa María de Gradefes, which by the way I did not know. Congratulations to Javier, the guide, also in Eslonza for his enthusiasm and good work. Also to Lucía in Santa María de Sandoval and Laura in San Miguel de Escalada Do the Route of the Monasteries, art, history, landscape and peasantry.
Sara Braña González (2 years ago)
Almost two years ago, I visited this place with my parents, and I found it really incredible... The guided tour was certainly more elaborate, it could not be there, because you could tell that the man had a real passion for explaining this type of artistic thing... The nuns They behaved quite well, and the sweets we bought were very tasty...
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