Santa Maria, Amer facts for kids
Santa Maria d'Amer is a very old and important building in Catalonia, Spain. It used to be a special place called a Benedictine monastery. Monasteries are where monks live and work together. This one is located in a town called Amer.
History of the Monastery
This monastery was started way back in the year 820 by a leader named Abbot Deodat. At first, it was dedicated to two saints, Saint Medir and Saint Genís.
A powerful ruler, King Louis the Pious, gave the monastery a special rule. This rule meant the monastery was protected from certain laws or taxes. Later, another king, Charles the Bald, confirmed this protection in 844 and again in 860.
In 949, the monastery moved to a new spot within Amer. It was rebuilt and officially opened again, this time dedicated to Saint Mary.
Over the next few centuries, the monastery became more important. It also gained more land and wealth. Even though it was connected to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Girona, it managed to stay independent during the 11th and 12th centuries.
In the 12th century, the monastery was changed and improved again. A smaller church, called the priory church of Santa Maria de Cóll, was also started. By 1381, the monastery had control over the religious community in Amer.
For a short time in 1445, it joined with another monastery called Sant Pere de Galligants. Then, in 1592, a special order from the Pope linked it to the monastery of Santa Maria de Roses. This connection lasted until the monks stopped living there.
Building and Design
The main church building is designed like a basilica. This means it has a long central area with two side sections. The ceilings of these areas are shaped like rounded tunnels, called barrel vaults.
At the end of the church, there's a rounded part called an apse. There are also two smaller, half-circle shaped apses. These are covered with dome-like ceilings.
These sections are connected by four arches on each side. The walls are decorated with special columns called pilasters, which are a style from Lombard architecture. Some of the original columns have been replaced over time.
The bell tower you see today was built in 1900. It replaced an older Romanesque one that was destroyed during a conflict called the Catalan Revolt.
The cloister, which is an open courtyard surrounded by covered walkways, was ruined in a big earthquake in 1427. Only the sacristy, a room where sacred items are kept, survived from that part.
Inside, from the 11th century, you can still see two decorated capitals. These are the top parts of columns. One has cool geometric shapes, and the other has four faces carved into it.
See also
In Spanish: Monasterio de Santa María de Amer para niños
