Monastery of San Salvador de Celanova facts for kids
The Monastery of San Salvador de Celanova is a very old and important religious building in Celanova, Galicia, Spain. It was once a rich abbey where Benedictines (a type of monk) lived.
Contents
Discovering the San Salvador de Celanova Monastery
How the Monastery Began
This famous monastery was started by St. Rudesind (also known as San Rosendo) way back in 936. Some old records say it might have been in 973, but either way, it's very old! It's located close to a town called Allariz and about 14 miles (22.5 km) from Ourense.
One of the most special parts of the monastery is the small chapel of San Miguel. This chapel is built in a style called Mozarabic, which was common in Spain a long time ago. It was built in 942, making it one of the oldest chapels in Spain. You can find it in the monastery's garden.
The Story of St. Rudesind
Inside the main church of the abbey, you can find the ancient tombs of Ilduara and Adosinda. These were the mother and sister of St. Rudesind, who founded the monastery. St. Rudesind himself was buried in a special tomb supported by four pillars.
There's an interesting story about St. Rudesind's body. During a time when invaders came to Spain, Christians moved his body to a place called Santa Coinba, about 10 miles (16 km) away. Later, some people from Portugal brought his body to Celanova. When they arrived, the bells of the monastery supposedly started ringing all by themselves!
Exploring the Monastery's Buildings
The monastery has two main courtyards, called cloisters.
- El Processional is a beautiful cloister with columns, a fountain, and a railing.
- El Puleiro includes a special room called the "sala capitular" and a floor made of brick mosaic patterns.
The main church is built in the Doric style. It has two separate areas for choirs. You can also see a beautifully carved door and special wooden seats called "silleria" made from walnut wood. Many memorials are also found throughout the monastery.
See also
In Spanish: Monasterio de San Salvador (Celanova) para niños
