These two churches in Santo Domingo de la Calzada, the Cathedral and the Monastery of San Francisco, are magnificent buildings, but also very peaceful places. We visited both in the past, but here they are again.
Read more: Two Churches in Santo Domingo de la CalzadaThe Cathedral
The Cathedral dates from the 12th century, and it is really two buildings combined into one. I find the Romanesque end of the church particularly beautiful, perhaps because it is simpler. It is said to be the work of Garcion, possibly French.
The second church was started in the 12th century and seems to have been at right-angles to the original.
In the Cloister
The Cloister serves as an exhibition space, with carvings, books, and models of biblical scenes, and of the cathedral itself.
Santo Domingo
Domingo Garcia (1019-1109) was a hermit who dedicated his life to helping pilgrims on the Camino to Santiago. His tomb was built over many centuries.
And in the crypt below…
And then there are the chickens
A rooster and two hens are in daily residence to commemorate a miracle performed by the saint…
Monastery of San Francisco
The Franciscans established a monastery in Cidamon in the 15th century and then moved to Santo Domingo in 1535, where Bernardo de Fresneda sponsored/directed the building that we find today. He is buried in front of the high altar. The Franciscan community left in the mid-1800s with the expropriation of the monasteries by Mendizabal.
Museum attached to San Francisco
The museum attached to the church is fascinating!
There were also the most extraordinary models, made during the pandemic by a woman, Nicola Maciarelleo, who was also, no doubt, bored with isolation.
And then there were the ‘tableaux’…!
There is a lot of information here, and even more on the internet, but I hope you will enjoy just walking round, and looking
I would love to hear from you!