Monastery of Pedralbes facts for kids
The Monastery of Pedralbes is a beautiful old building in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It was built in the Gothic style, which means it has tall arches and big windows. Today, it's a museum where you can see amazing art and learn about its long history. A special part, the Chapel of St. Michael, was fixed up and opened again in 2018.
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What's in a Name?
The name 'Pedralbes' comes from two old Latin words: Petras Albas. This means 'white stones'. The monastery was built using light-colored stone, which is how it got its name!
A Royal Beginning
The Monastery of Pedralbes was started in 1326 by King James II of Aragon. He built it especially for his wife, Queen Elisenda de Montcada.
The monastery became home to a group of nuns called the Poor Clares. Many of these nuns came from important noble families.
Queen Elisenda's Special Gifts
Queen Elisenda gave the monastery many special rights. One important right was that the city of Barcelona would protect it directly. The city had a group called the Consell de Cent (which means "Council of the Hundred"). Their job was to defend the monastery if it was ever in danger.
After her husband, King James II, passed away in 1327, Queen Elisenda lived in a palace right next to the monastery. She stayed there until she died in 1367. We only found the remains of her palace in the 1970s!
Tough Times and New Life
During a conflict in the 1640s and 1650s called the Reapers' War, the nuns had to leave the monastery. But they were able to come back later.
Even today, some nuns still live in a part of the complex. The monastery was recognized as an important national monument in 1991.
Exploring the Monastery's Design
The Monastery of Pedralbes was originally protected by strong walls. These walls were made of the same white stone that gave the monastery its name. Today, only two towers and one gate from these old walls remain.
The Church
The church inside the monastery has one main open space. Its ceiling has special arched supports called rib vaults. The back part of the church, called the apse, has many sides. Inside, you can see a beautiful old altarpiece, a large decorated screen behind the altar, made by an artist named Jaume Huguet. The front of the church has a very large, round window called a rose window.
The Cloister: A Peaceful Garden
The cloister is a special open area, like a courtyard, surrounded by covered walkways. It has three floors and is about 40 meters long. In the middle, there's a peaceful garden filled with orange trees and palm trees.
The walkways are supported by wide arches resting on columns. The tops of these columns, called capitals, are decorated with symbols of the Kings of Aragon and the House of Montcada.
Queen Elisenda's Resting Place
Queen Elisenda's tomb is located in one of the cloister's wings. It's made of a soft, white stone called alabaster.
The Chapel of St. Michael
Another important part of the monastery is the Chapel of St. Michael. This chapel has amazing fresco paintings by an artist named Ferrer Bassa. These paintings were made in 1346 and show the influence of a famous Italian painter named Giotto.
Art Exhibitions
In the 1990s, the monastery's old dormitory was used to show art from the Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection. This collection included works by early Italian painters and later artists like Rubens, Canaletto, Tintoretto, Velázquez, and Fra Angelico. One of Fra Angelico's most famous paintings, Virgin of Humility, was displayed there.
Now, these artworks are in other museums. Many are at the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya in Barcelona, or at the main home of the collection in Madrid.
See also
- Maritime Museum of Barcelona
