This is the second post to visit religious buildings, but this time it is churches and monasteries outside the walls of Soria.
San Juan de Duero
This former monastery stands on the banks of the Duero, outside the walls of Soria, and is quite wonderful. The Knights of St John of Jerusalem built a monastery here, adding to an existing church, in honour of St John the Baptist.
The cloister was built between the 13th and 15th centuries, and was the burial ground for the monastery. And perhaps because it was built over time, the columns on the different sides of the cloister differ.
The church is 12th century, and very plain apart from the carvings on the columns.
Monastery of San Polo
This monastery, which once belonged to the Templars, stood outside the walls, on the south side of the Duero. Together with the Monastery of San Juan, it guarded the mediaeval bridge and one entrance to the city. Today, the remains are privately owned. Oddly, there is a path through the building and this leads to the Hermitage of San Saturio.
Hermitage of San Saturio
The Hermitage of San Saturio overlooks the Duero River, outside the town, and we visited on a previous stay in Soria. We were also very lucky to have been in the town during the Festival to celebrate the patron saint of the town.
Monastery of San Francisco
The church itself was closed, but the remains of a monastery behind the church abut onto a modern hotel, with a small, closed garden. The complex lies next to the Alameda Park.
Church of San Salvador
The church dates from the 1960s when only the apse of the original Romanesque church was retained.
I hope that these two posts give some idea of the beauty, and variety of the religious buildings in Soria. Of course, so much more could be said…
I would love to hear from you!